Melbourne and Carlton are reportedly in talks to stage a landmark game in support of mental health next season.
Melbourne chief executive Paul Guerra has revealed his club are keen to take part in the fixture in 2027 — which he hopes will help address a “pandemic” which needs more support and funding.
The preliminary discussions, first reported by the Herald Sun, come after Carlton star Elijah Hollands was hospitalised following a “mental health episode” during his side’s defeat to Collingwood on Thursday.
The AFL are awaiting the outcome of Carlton’s investigation.
Conversations between Melbourne and Carlton for a game supporting mental health took place prior to Hollands’ incident against Collingwood.
Guerra said: “It is an important cause. For this (idea) to go further, we need to talk about it with another club, so there is still a bit to go (before it happens).
“It has to be another big Melbourne club. We don’t have any hallmark games with Carlton or Essendon, one of those two clubs (could play).
“I know that Carlton is keen to find a marquee game as well, but I haven’t spoken to Essendon yet.”
The talks come after legendary Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy spoke with Guerra earlier this year in an attempt to urge Melbourne to face another AFL side in a match to will promote awareness and funding for mental health.
Sheedy, who proposed Carlton and Essendon as two teams Melbourne could play, is involved with the not-for-profit men’s mental health organisation The Male Hug.
Opening up about Sheedy’s influence on the idea, Guerra added: “We all love Sheeds and he has just been mighty for the game. When he comes to talk to you, you listen.
“He is right about the impact of people struggling with mental health. The question is can we build a game around that, and if we can raise awareness, then we would have a look at it.
“If we can help, and if we can build a crowd around that cause, it is something, as a club, that we would absolutely look at.
“They are preliminary conversations .. As I have said to Sheeds, before we jump into doing it, let’s work this through so that it lasts.
“The impact that AFL football has on society now … people are looking for somewhere to belong and AFL has been that spot. We have to be very conscious of that as a club. Yes, we are out there to win, but we are also out there to make people have somewhere to go.
“For it to go further we need to talk about it (more) with the other club, we need to talk about it to the AFL, so there is a bit to go. But the cause is important.”
Originally published as AFL teams Melbourne and Carlton plan landmark mental health game