Launching the West Coast Eagles’ new wristband for The Cancer Council WA at Subiaco Oval on Wednesday afternoon, captain Chris Judd called for supporters of football to get behind the cause.

The wristbands, embossed with the message DIG DEEP, follow on from the hugely-popular 2005 model which raised over $85,000 for The Cancer Council WA and its efforts in patient services and support, vital cancer research and cancer education and prevention programs.

Flanked by skills coach Rob Wiley, who spoke formally on the club’s behalf, and young gun Beau Waters, Judd identified the wristbands as an easy way to help fight cancer in the community.

“You see sick kids in hospital and you don’t know what to say to them because you just feel so sorry for the situation they’re put in,” he said. “One of the good things about playing AFL football is that you do get the opportunity to help people because of the position you have in the community. This is a great opportunity for the players to get behind a worthy cause and hopefully the public will get behind it as well.

“Footy is essentially a game of make believe. It’s not real, it’s not like war or real illness. When bad things happen to you on the field, it is important to remember that there’s a lot of people out there in the real world that are going through troubles that are a lot worse. When you know someone who does get struck down by illness, it can make you have a look at your situation and make you feel that sometimes you are a bit petty. Certainly when you visit sick kids in hospital, it does put it into perspective just how lucky we are.”

The wristbands are available for $3 each from ANZ, Video Ezy, Caltex, SGIO, Medibank Private, Toyota distributors and Retravision stores as well as at the West Coast Eagles offices and Team Store at Subiaco Oval.

Importantly, the club's fixture against the Kangaroos on August 12 will be branded a Dig Deep Day match for Daffodil Day with patrons encouraged to wear their wristbands to the game. For those that don’t purchase them beforehand, they will be on sale on the day.

“The players and people involved with the club are going to be wearing them but if the members and supporters of our footy club, and just the public in general,” Judd continued. “It’s not really about which footy club you barrack for, it’s really about helping people who’ve been hit by cancer.

“If everyone could get behind it, that’d be great.”

The Cancer Council WA is in its second year of charitable partnership with the West Coast Eagles.