United for a friend

A huge crowd turned out at Western Park for the Tyson Bale Memorial Game to remember a skilful local footballer and start meaningful conversations.

Tyson’s former clubs Warragul Industrials and Buln Buln joined forces for the football and netball practice games.

Tyson, who died in late July at the age of 24, played his junior footy at Buln Buln before moving to Dusties where he played a majority of his senior footy.  The popular player brought joy to many with his footy skills and his death left both clubs shattered.

Unable to gather at the time of his death due to COVID restrictions, Warragul Industrials president Dale Bainbridge said the day acted in part as a wake and also as a way to spread the word on mental health and start meaningful conversations.

Mr Bainbridge said although the gate wasn’t recorded, the attendance “was certainly bigger than a normal final, a couple of thousand”.

Tyson’s father Bob Bale spoke to players prior to the senior match with Dusties players all wearing Tyson’s number one guernsey and Buln players all wearing Tyson’s number 17 guernsey.