St Kilda Australian rules football players will take to the field in Morwell, Vic, this Sunday sporting special socks to show their support for Australia's dairy industry.
The Saints have partnered with Dairy Australia in 2020 and will kick off their support this weekend in Gippsland, one of Victoria's biggest dairy farming regions.
The community of Morwell will play host to the Saints' second Marsh Cup game this Sunday against Collingwood, with the Saints' cow patterned socks designed to celebrate the importance of the dairy industry to the local community, and local communities all over Australia.
Saints Ruckman Rowan Marshall, who spent time growing up on a dairy farm in south-west Victoria, said he was proud to support the industry.
"Dairy is a massive part of the community where I grew up in Portland, and it's great that we are showing our support as a club," Marshall said.
"Dairy farmers are part of our rural communities and so important to the local economy in these country towns, just as local football clubs are"
"The socks are certainly eye catching, but I'll be pulling them up with pride this weekend knowing the people we are supporting."
Dairy Australia's communications strategy manager Glenys Zucco said: "Like dairy, sport is proudly part of Australian life."
"We're so excited to partner with the St Kilda Football Club in 2020. Footy is an integral part of many regional communities where dairy farmers not only produce quality dairy, but they play and coach the local teams too."
"Dairy also plays an important part in the diets of footy players. Milk naturally contains fluid and electrolytes to help rehydrate after a footy match or training session."
In partnership with the St Kilda Football Club, Dairy Australia's Socks Up for Dairy initiative is a display of support for dairy communities across the country.
"Our Socks Up for Dairy initiative celebrates the special role that sport and dairy play in our communities," Ms Zucco said.
"We hope to show our support of regional dairy towns, thank our farmers and bring Australians together to barrack for 'Team Dairy'."
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