Read The Play Round returns

GEELONG-BASED mental health service Read The Play is gearing up for another year of bringing mental health to the fore of local sport, hosting this year’s Read The Play Round across AFL Barwon’s football and netball competitions.

Read The Play general manager Michelle Gerdtz said the organisation was again excited for the rapidly growing round, which will see specially-made socks and white-branded footballs used in games across the region.

“In an exciting initiative, Read the Play and AFL Barwon have extended the collaboration to include Leisure Networks and Tackle Your Feelings this year.

“Not only will we be providing special match footballs, netballs and medals for all the Under 15 netball and Under 16 football games, we’ll also be hosting a luncheon at Ocean Grove with special guests Tackle Your Feelings Champion Daniel Gorringe and former Geelong Cats AFLW star Erin Hoare.”

Read The Play Round was first run in 2023, headlined by a senior fixture in the Geelong & District Football Netball League between East Geelong and North Geelong.

This year, all Geelong Football Netball League games have been designated as Read The Play Round contests.

The round underpins Read The Play’s various activities undertaken throughout the organisation’s Mental Health Week.

Read The Play has invited young sporting club members to its first Game Changers Leadership Event, which will take place at Kardinia Park tomorrow (Saturday, July 20).

The event provides a unique opportunity for young players to help shape the future of Read The Play’s programs and initiatives, and all participants will also receive a ticket to the Geelong Cats game that night.

Gerdtz said she has been overwhelmed by the amount of support already given at club level.

“We have been delivering the Read the Play program in football netball clubs in the region for close to 20 years and we couldn’t do what we do without clubs prioritising the mental health of their young players.

“We are so thankful for their support in allowing us to deliver our programs.”

Read The Play also held its annual Fundraiser Breakfast at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday.