At a glance:

  • St Kilda will don the purple, white and black in the fifth instalment of Maddie's Match in Round 4.
  • The Saints will partner with Maddie Riewoldt's Vision to raise funds to support Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes research.
  • St Kilda will also take part in the 21st edition of the Barker/Whitten Challenge Plate this Sunday against the Western Bulldogs.

Maddie’s Match will celebrate five years this season with the Saints and Tigers to clash in the annual game in Round 4.

Despite uncertainty surrounding crowds attendance for the Saturday-twilight contest on Saturday June 27, the Saints will again partner with Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision (MRV) to raise much needed funds to support research into Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes (BMFS).   

While fans can purchase a purple inspired Maddie’s Match jumper, players will be wearing special purple socks to mark the occasion.

Seb Ross, Nick Riewoldy and Jack Riewoldt at last year's Maddie's Match.

St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt said he was humbled by the commitment to continue Maddie’s legacy despite the current challenges presented by COVID-19.

“The human spirit has truly prevailed in 2020. The announcement to support Maddie’s Vision and hold our 5th Maddie’s Match is a message of united strength,” Riewoldt said.

It’s the strength of our partnership with St Kilda Football Club and the wider AFL community to confirm that regardless of the external challenges we are facing, we are all behind those families impacted by Bone Marrow Failure.

- Nick Riewoldt

“And we remain steadfast in our desire to honour Maddie’s legacy, which is saving lives”.

MRV CEO Nicky long said the funds raised over the past five years through MRV was lifesaving.

“Maddie’s Match has underpinned our impact towards finding a cure for Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes,” Long said.

The funds raised since out first match in 2015 has led to us now funding 24 medical research projects, within a National Centre of Research Excellence in Bone Marrow Biology.

- MRV CEO, Nicky Long

“The 2020 game marks five years of Maddie’s Match and will play a crucial role in helping us improve the dismal 50 per cent survival rate for all who face this cruel diagnosis.”

St Kilda fans who have already purchased a Maddie Match supporter pack will be contacted directly about their options.

But before MRV is held in Round 4 , the Saints clash with the Bulldogs this weekend in the 21st edition of the Barker/Whitten Challenge Plate, an annual fixture contested between the two clubs.

Tim Membrey at last year's Barker/Whitten Challenge Plate match.

The match honours the memory of club legends Trevor Barker and EJ Whitten, both of whom were tragically taken by cancer, and in doing so raises awareness for their foundations, the Trevor Barker Foundation and the EJ Whitten Foundation.

A year after Trevor Barker’s tragic passing in April 1996, friends of the St Kilda superstar established the Trevor Barker Foundation to continue the memory of one of St Kilda’s favourite sons.

The Foundation, a charity partner of Challenge, was set up to provide support, experiences and respite opportunities for families with either children or adults living with cancer.

Each year, the winner of the Trevor Barker Award becomes a Challenge ambassador and leads the club’s work in supporting the organisation to support those impacted by the insidious disease.