The 2020 BankVic Emergency Services Match Series will kick off tomorrow Friday February 28 when the Hawks take on the Saints in a pre-season practice match in Morwell.  

Building on the success of last year’s inaugural Emergency Services Match, Hawthorn has extended the match into the pre-season and will host an emergency services themed practice match in Morwell. Then, in Round 3, Hawthorn will again take on Collingwood at the MCG in the second annual Emergency Services Match.

Partnering with Emergency Management Victoria, Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, the CFA, Life Saving Victoria, Forest Fire Management Victoria, Victorian State Emergency Service, ESTA 000, St John Ambulance, Red Cross, the Victoria Council of Churches and the Coast Guard, the match honours the work of the state’s emergency services personnel; recognising their incredible work and raising awareness of the mental health issues faced by these ordinary people who do extraordinary things every day to help those in need.

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The Emergency Services practice match in Morwell will have a strong focus on supporting local emergency services personnel and the broader community following the recent bushfire crisis in the Gippsland region.

The club encourages football fans from across the state to attend the match to help raise much needed funds for bushfire relief and show support for the Gippsland community. Entry to the match is free. Those attending the match have the option to make a gold coin donation which will be donated to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund which provides immediate short-term funds to Gippslanders affected by natural disaster events.

Both games provide an opportunity to raise much needed funds for the emergency services personnel and communities affected by recent bushfires.

At the match in Round 3 all funds raised will be donated to the Emergency Services Foundation, an organisation established in 1983 after the Ash Wednesday fires, supports Emergency Services workers in times of need through a range of support services. 

More than half of all employees and volunteers in Emergency Services are likely to experience a traumatic event that will deeply affect them during their career.

The Emergency Services Match will raise awareness of the mental health issues faced by the people doing this vital work in our communities.

BankVic has also thrown its support behind the game, coming onboard as the official presenting partner of the match.

In addition to BankVic, the Victorian Government and TAC have also joined as proud partners of the game.

Hawthorn and Collingwood will play in the inaugural Emergency Services Match on Saturday 4 April, 1.45pm at the MCG.

See how last week's game against the Saints played out with the below highlights.