AG COLLEGE will take on Farrer League club Charles Sturt University at their own game on Saturday, all in the name of a good cause.
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The Bushpigs will host Aggies in a charity game of Australian rules at Peter Hastie Oval to raise funds for charity ‘Angus Aims for Independence’.
Cootamundra 18-year-old Angus Pennington has cerebral palsy and is one of Aggies biggest fans.
Aggies captain Thomas Macleay decided it was time to give back to Angus and organised Saturday’s game, along with a host of fundraising events.
“It was their first year at the club last year, they’re so diehard, they give a lot to the club so we should try to give something back to a family that helps us,” Macleay said.
“It should be a good day.”
The charity, set up by Susie Pennington, is not just about Angus, but aimed at helping other young adults in Cootamundra live independently. She wants to see more supported disability accommodation in the town.
Mrs Pennington said Angus loves being involved with Southern Inland Rugby Union (SIRU) club Ag College.
“It just gives him such happiness,” she said.
“When these boys don’t win, I must admit we have one very cranky supporter.”
Macleay insists Ag College will take a very simple game plan into their AFL experiment.
“It will be physical up the guts,” he said.
“I don’t think there will be much skill but there will be a fair bit of brutality.
“As long as they don’t spread it out on the wing, we’ll be right. We’ve had a fairly long off-season already.”
Macleay hopes to be able to turn the game into an annual charity event.
“This is just the start of something, really,” he hopes.
“At this point, the focus is helping Angus but the more we get this into the community and peoples’ minds, the more people we can help over the next few years, the better.
“That’s the plan.”
Supporters are encouraged to get along to the game with food and drinks available.
Macleay said the game will be played in the right spirit.
“It’s not too serious,” he said.
“We’ve got about a 30-man squad in each team so there will be rolling substitutions.
“The clubs have never done anything like this together. We drink together, carry on together so why not come bash each other together.
“It should be a good day.”
The game starts at 2pm on Saturday before a $10,000 cash draw and jersey auction get underway at William Farrer Hotel from 5.30pm.
Macleay thanked CSU Bushpigs for their help and cooperation for the day.
If people want to support the cash draw raffle they can contact Mrs Pennington on 0419 494 327 or deposit the funds with their name to the Coota Carers’ bank account using details BSB 062 526 and account number 1013 9879.