Michelle Daley Shield

Balmain and Western Wolves will play for much more than four premiership points this Saturday when they take to the field for the annual Sydney Women’s AFL (SWAFL) Michelle Daley Shield.

Michelle Daley is a former Balmain player who unfortunately suffered a rare but severe liver injury in 2002 when playing against Wests.

Now SWAFL hold an annual fundraiser to help raise money for the Royal Prince Alfred hospital’s transplant centre – where Michelle went to get a liver transplant following her injury.

To assist in the fundraiser will be a barbeque and canteen run by current players as well as donation boxes set-up around the ground. There will also be a bumper raffle where the winner will receive a signed Australian cricket bat and a coffee machine.

AFL NSW/ACT Female Football Manager Libby Sadler said the annual Michelle Daley Shield is turning into one of the biggest events in the SWAFL calendar.

“Michelle Daley is a true icon of women’s AFL and this match will mean much more than just who wins or loses,” Sadler said.

“Unfortunately Michelle suffered a very rare injury while playing footy but she has turned it into a positive and is now raising money for people who need transplants.

“I encourage the whole community to come out and not only watch the top female players go head to head but also help out for a good cause.”

A number of Balmain and Wests players have just returned home to Sydney following their grand final victory at the AFL Women’s National Championships held in Adelaide last week.

The match between Balmain and Wests commences at 2pm at Mahoney Park and it’s free entry so anyone can come along and watch.