The morning of a game has always been a routine for Dale Hunter.
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Collecting boots, socks, and shorts, and, after picking up the Tigers' coaching role, adding a team's worth of jumpers and drink bottles and bibs and medical kits, he had to collect plenty on his way out the door to a game.
This year he's added something else to add to the already-exhaustive list.
Each Saturday, Hunter slips on an armband emblazoned with the name "Chrisso" and the number 16 - the number worn by Chris Rothnie for the Orange Tigers.
The bracelets were handed out to Tigers players ahead of ahead of Rothnie's funeral in February, and they still adorn the wrists of Hunter and others on gameday.
This weekend in the side's AFL Central West clash with the Dubbo Demons will add another set of mementos to the Tigers' uniform - this weekend the men will don special socks and shoelaces as part of the club's R U OK round.
The yellow socks and laces are adorned with the R U OK logo, and will be worn to raise awareness of mental health issues.
The club has held sessions from sport-focused mental health charity Outside The Locker Room and Hunter said those, alongside a general mindset shift from the players, had made a big difference to season 2019 and this game would mean a lot to the Tigers.
"It means a lot given that there's not a lot of awareness around the mental health and obviously footy clubs are generally an environment where people can feel comfortable but it can also be a very macho environment where a lot of the men just don't want to speak up about their problems," he said.
"Even though you've got a whole team and club behind our guys they don't always know it and aren't always aware of it so it means a lot.
"Whether the change was forced for the obvious reasons it definitely feels different for me."
There's a definite feeling of difference in the playing group for the Tigers in season 2019, too, and Hunter said he was "really proud" to see the club take the lead in mental health awareness.
"I'm really proud our club has taken on this promotion of the R U OK round and happy we're here to support it," he said.
It's been a rough year but it's good to get around the boys and play footy.
- Tigers forward Tyson Hannus
"We know firsthand the importance of it and we're really happy to be part of this round.
"We mourn the loss of Chris every time we take the field and it's an instant reminder, every Saturday morning I wake up and put my Chrisso armband on.
"I don't want to forget either, which is who I am."
Forward Tyson Hannus, who was a close friend of Rothnie's, echoed Hunter's sentiments and said the mood in the club had changed in 2019.
"We're definitely more open with each other, can't bottle stuff up and we're pretty lucky to have a club like we do, if you can stop someone having a bad day by coming out and kicking the footy," he said.
"It's been a rough year but it's good to get around the boys and play footy."
Hannus has had to step up, both as a forward in the absence of Tim Barry and as a leader, with Barry and other leaders of the club not playing in 2019.
"I feel like I'm a bit more vocal on the team now and when you lose players like [Michael Rothnie] and Baz and Chrisso you need to step up with big shoes to fill," he said.
"Considering I wasn't going to play at the start of the season, coming back it's gone a lot better than I expected we were going to go, it's been a good season and I've been in good form so I'm happy with that, it's just good to be out and having a kick."
He's hoping to hit Saturday's game hard, with the match not only pivotal for the club off-field, but also as an Old Boy's day and pivotal for the club heading into a tight finals race.
"Just want to go in and give as good shot, old boy's game as well and it's important we all get around each other, let the boys know if you're not feeling right come have a chat," Hannus said.
First bounce is at 2.30pm.
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