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The Heart of Collingwood |
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 Players are the heart of Collingwood. Whether they be former players, current day players, or future champions – they are the heart. However, the Collingwood Past Players Association has detected a blockage in one of the main arteries leading to the heart and is asking the Collingwood faithful for help to fix the problem. The Problem:
Over 25% of former players are enduring long suffering pain and hardship due to severe injuries sustained through playing VFL / AFL football.
Sadly, these former players have no private health care cover and many are waiting up to three years to receive surgery through the public hospital system.
Our legendary Captain, Murray Weideman, has never shirked a confrontation, on or off the field, and says that the player welfare issue is a serious one, and together with the Collingwood faithful, he intends to confront this one head on.
Welfare Fund:
Combining with the Collingwood Football Club Past Players Association, Murray has put his name forward to formulate a Player Welfare Fund, aptly named “The Murray Weideman Heart of Collingwood Player Welfare Fund”.
Objective of the Fund:
To raise enough money to pay for the most affective hardship cases into private health care insurance cover.
Immediate funds needed are $100,000
How can the Collingwood Faithful help?
- By purchasing player memorabilia through the website: www.theheartofcollingwood.com.au
- By participating and attending player welfare functions (website calendar of events).
- By becoming a player welfare donor / member (details under donor welfare member website section).
Read more About Us:>>
AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE & REQUEST FROM MURRAY WEIDEMAN
In my playing days at Collingwood, we had a bonding song called “we stuck so tight to the old black and white”. In other words, we looked after our mates whatever the circumstances. Money was never an issue because there wasn’t any.
In a recent survey conducted on past players’ injuries suffered as a consequence of playing VFL/AFL football, in the age group between 31 to 71 years, I was horrified to discover that 41% finish with severe injuries. Of the 41%, 57% are knees, ankles, shoulders and the head. All will require surgery now or sometime in the future. READ MORE >> |
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Passion At A Price |
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FACT 1: 66% of VFL/AFL players suffer football related injuries post career. Most common injuries are knee problems / replacements, hip / hip replacements, arthritis and shoulders (AFLPA survey November 2008).
FACT 2: Additionally, injury results increased depression, anger, anxiety, frustration, more often resulting in psychological consequences (Quackenbush & Crossmen research).
FACT 3: Post career visits by VFL/AFL players to psychologists / psychiatrists
are 18% (AFLPA survey 2008).
Currently, we have around 120 Collingwood past players in need of urgent surgery and medical attention and they cannot afford the cost. Therefore, I have established The Murray Weideman Heart of Collingwood Past Players Welfare Fund, in an attempt to raise enough money to see that our Collingwood heroes are looked after, now and into the future.
How can you help?
Become one of a select group by becoming a Foundation Member. The cost of a Foundation Membership is $1,495 and as a Foundation Member you are a very special person.
Download the PDF brochure >>
Check the Memberships available here >> |
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Side by Side We Stick Together |
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Side by side we stick together
By attending “The Heart of Colingwood” Past Players’Anzac Day Luncheon, you are helping many former players receive medical treatment from injuries sustained through their playing days with the Colingwood Footbal Club.
We will have a good roll up of former Colingwood icons along with some current day list players. Additionaly, we must not overlook the significance of Anzac Day.
We are honoured to have Mr Barry Heard, a Vietnam Veteran, as one ofour guest speakers. Barry speaks openly about this painful and soiled era, his book, “Well Done Those Men” is a best seller and draws on his own experience as a young conscript and those of his comrades.
As an added bonus, the Hilton on the Park has just spent $10M on refurbishments, the function facilities are fabulous.
Please support us. Please click here to read more about this fabulous function or see our new Events section.
Murray Weideman
180 Game Player
Dual Premiership 1953/1958
Captain 1958 Premiership Side |
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Side by side we stick together #2 |
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 Collingwood young guns Nick Maxwell, Paul Licuria and Shane Walkelin are sticking behind their idol, legendary Captain Murray Weideman, in asking the Collingwood Faithful to join them in becoming a Foundation Member of the Murray Weideman Heart of Collingwood Past Player Welfare initiative.
By committing to a Foundation Membership, you will be helping many former Collingwood past players receive medical treatment from injuries sustained through their playing careers.
The cost of a Foundation Membership is $1,495 and as a Foundation Member you are a very special person.
Become a Foundation Member - click here.
Benefits:
- A quality velvet lined case containing an engraved superior medal with your nominated favourite Collingwood player number and name on the back.
- The front of the medal will feature “Heart of Collingwood” Murray Weideman Foundation Member.
- A smaller superior lapel badge to be worn with pride featuring on front “Heart of Collingwood” Murray Weideman Foundation Member.
- A limited edition lithograph action caricature of Murray Weideman and personally signed by Murray.
- A personal letter to the Member signed by Murray Weideman.
- The velvet lined box is heightened by black and white ribbon.
- A yearly get together luncheon for members featuring Murray and other Collingwood icons as guest speakers.
Interview by Jonathon Bernard - Collingwood FC Media Co-ordinator
JB: Murray Weideman in your playing days for Collingwood you were known as ‘The Enforcer’, simply because you protected the smaller players from getting hurt. You became a marked man.
After 180 games and with your high profile status, it was inevitable there would be injuries sustained.
Years on you have had:
- Two knee replacements
- Three crushed vertebrae, now fused
- Studs inserted into your forehead from whacks received to the head
- Hip operation pending
- Fingers bent and disfigured
All this and you played for little to no money … why?
Murray: The answer is simple really:
- Firstly, as a Collingwood person there is almost nothing you wouldn’t do for the Club you love.
- Secondly, I played for the fans, they got enjoyment and I enjoyed giving it to them.
End of interview
Become a Foundation Member - click here. |
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