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From West Coast Eagles’ current coach to a former Australian cricket captain, legends from all codes have thrown their support behind Danny Green’s Fight the Coward Punch blitz.
It’s been 13 years since the WA boxing champion started the campaign and he’s confident the message is cutting through.
“We’ve got to keep punching – excuse the pun – we’ve gotta keep punching away at this because it’s very important,” Green told 9News.
“I’m very proud of the fact I’ve received a lot of support.”
And that support came from Australia’s sporting elite today, as fierce rivals on the field came together for Green’s campaign at the Sporting Legends Day at Ascot Racecourse.
“It’s just not anything we want to see in public, so stop the coward punch is a great campaign,” Eagles Coach Andrew McQualter told 9News.
Fremantle Football Club’s Patrick Voss agrees.
“I don’t think it’s a show of strength coward punching – or punching anyone in general,” he told 9News.
Studies show about three quarters of survivors face significant impacts to their quality of life.
“Violence isn’t going to solve anything really,” Eagles player Jake Waterman told 9News.
“It resonates with a lot of people – victims and family of victims have their lives cut short or taken back from something.”
Danny Hodgson is still receiving treatment for the hit that put him into a coma four years ago.
More than 172 Australians have died from a coward punch since 2000.
Danny Green is standing by his 13-year-old campaign, saying it’s helping with awareness.
“People say, ‘oh is it working?’ I say ‘yeah, it’s definitely working’ – the numbers, the data show the numbers have been reduced of death and injuries.”
It’s hoped events like these can further drill down how a split second decision can have an irreversible impact.
