Cricketers unite for fifth edition of Cobba’s Round to raise awareness for mental health

The Albany cricket community will unite on Saturday for another edition of Cobba’s Round in a bid to raise awareness for mental health.

The special round will once again feature in the Albany and Districts Cricket Association fixtures on Saturday to honour and remember former Narrikup cricket favourite Greg Steel.

Steel, who was known to many as Cobba, died in 2019, yet his legacy lives on among many cricketers in the Albany region.

Over the past five years, they have united to honour his memory and promote mental health awareness.

Cricketers from all clubs will gather in the North Road pavilion after Saturday’s games to spin yarns with mates, and indulge in pizzas while raising money and awareness for men’s mental health and Beyond Blue.

Cobba’s Round organiser Aldo Lionetti said the round is a great chance for cricketers from various clubs to get together.

“It’s important for the cricket fellas to come together and have a catch-up with one another,” Lionetti said.

“The more people that get to the event the better and it’s just good to have a couple laughs with mates over a couple of beers.”

Senior community educator from The Regional Men’s Health Initiative Terry Melrose, will address the room about the Talk to a Mate initiative that aims to encourage men to discuss their feelings and emotions with friends and family.

The pavilion will be open for cricketers and members of the public in the early afternoon.

In round 7 of the ADCA A-grade competition, Collingwood Park will take on Railways at Turf South and Mt Barker will clash with the unbeaten Royals at Turf North with both games starting at 12.15pm.