JAYDEN Hunt will wear a blue headband during Monday’s blockbuster against Collingwood at the MCG.
Hunt said he wanted to wear the headband as support for Neale Daniher and his FightMND campaign. He will then auction it off after the game.
“I just want to stress that it’s got nothing to do with me – it’s just a way to raise money for such a good cause,” Hunt told Melbourne TV.
“If I can just do my little bit, because it is such an important cause, and if we can get a win, I can auction it off and get a bit more if we win.
“It’s an extra reason to get the win on Monday and raise a bit of money through the auction.”
Hunt said Daniher’s cause to help raise funds to find a cure for motor neurone disease was inspiring.
“It’s absolutely great. It’s the third ‘Big Freeze at the ‘G’ and the first two have been fantastic and I think the amount of money that’s been raised is such a good thing and such an important cause,” he said.
“It’s a really devastating disease and it needs to be stopped or limited as much as possible.
“Neale Daniher has ties to the club, so it means a little bit extra for us. For him and all sufferers – it’s a real boost to see the whole AFL behind the cause and we’re trying to raise as much money as we can really.”
Hunt, who made his AFL debut against Collingwood at the MCG in round four last year and whose great uncle Harold Rumney played in four Collingwood premierships from 1927-30, said it meant a lot to come up against the Magpies.
“I grew up barracking for Collingwood – I really didn’t have a choice. Dad had a Collingwood beanie on me [when I was born] and we actually called my old golden retriever ‘Buckley’ after Nathan Buckley, so I was a big Collingwood fan,” he said.
“But now, they’re the enemy and I have no love for them anymore – that’s for sure. I’ve converted Dad somehow and Dad is one of nine, so all of his brothers and sisters used to go for Collingwood, but slowly and surely, I’m converting a few of them.
“There are still a couple of diehards, but hopefully by the end of my career I can have all nine barracking for the Dees.”
Meanwhile, Hunt said he would love the opportunity to play for Victoria in State-of-Origin if it returned in the right time of the season.
“I would like to play in a game – it’s just hard to know when to play it,” he said.
“I definitely wouldn’t like to replace the bye, but if they worked out a good time, I’d definitely put my hand up.
“It’s a long season and we are very sore, but if they could find the time, I’d absolutely love to pull on the [Big] V – I reckon it’d be great fun.”
