Port Adelaide ball magnet Tom Rockliff is set to take the plunge for Big Freeze 6.
Rockliff will join 17 fellow AFL players braving the ice bath in support of Neale Daniher’s FightMND fundraiser, with the event set to be broadcast live on Channel 7 on the Queen’s Birthday holiday on Monday, June 8 – ahead of the AFL season restart later that week.
Usually featuring as a pre-game spectacular during the annual Collingwood-Melbourne clash at the MCG, the Big Freeze has been forced to improvise due to COVID-19 restrictions and clubs film their own submissions.
Rockliff jumped at the chance to help raise invaluable funds for Motor Neurone Disease research – 2019’s Big Freeze 5 alone raised $5.4 million for the cause.
“It’s huge what Neale’s done, but there are so many people that suffer across Australia with the disease and there’s no real cure at the moment,” Rockliff told portadelaidefc.com.au on Monday morning.
“Hopefully with the research that is being done and the donations that are being given and the awareness that Neale has created in the AFL community, sooner rather than later they can come up with something that can cure this disease.”
The 30-year-old said he was proud of his club and the AFL community as a whole for banding together in support of a worthy cause.
“That is the great thing about footy and footy clubs, they throw their support behind a lot of causes,” he said.
“To see the footy community come together for this in particular on the national stage year in-year out for six years now, I think it is a great cause.”
A notorious prankster around Alberton, Rockliff teased his performance in front of the cameras, which is sure to earn a few laughs.
“There is a bit of stuff in the works,” he revealed.
“We did the filming the other day. Hopefully everyone can see the lighter side of it and get a few laughs out of it and if you can afford it hopefully donate and help out as best you can.”
Fans can get involved in raising funds for Fight MND by purchasing a beanie, which are on sale in store or online at Coles and Bunnings nationwide or through the FightMND website.
