The Sydney Swans will wear black armbands as a show of respect for the six victims killed in the horror attack at Bondi Junction on Saturday.
The AFL club shared a brief statement on its official website on Monday to express its sadness at the events that unfolded over the weekend, where a lone man stabbed a shopping centre.
Six people, including a young mother, died as a result of the attack carried out by Joel Cauchi, 40 years old.
Saturday’s attack has shocked the nation, with tributes pouring in from around the world.
And the city’s local football club has shared their grief, confirming they will follow North Melbourne’s lead by wearing black armbands for this weekend’s match against the Gold Coast Suns.
Sydney Swans will wear black armbands to pay respect to Bondi victims
“The Sydney Swans extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed in the horror that unfolded at Bondi Junction on Saturday,” the club said.
“There are no words to adequately describe the devastation and loss that has occurred in a place that is so familiar to many at our club.
‘We are all shocked and heavy-hearted as we join the community in mourning the loss of innocent lives. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims, those still undergoing treatment, and all those affected.
‘This traumatic event will be felt by our community for some time.
“We are working to support our staff and players who have been affected, and we are here to support our wider Sydney Swans family. We encourage anyone deeply concerned about this tragedy to seek support through services such as Lifeline .
“As a small gesture and show of respect, our teams will wear black armbands at matches this weekend, while we will pause to pay tribute before our AFL match against Gold Coast at the SCG on Sunday. Our March To The Match will not take place this weekend.
Elsewhere, Alastair Clarkson has criticized Australia’s failure to tackle drug and alcohol related violence following the Bondi Junction stabbing that shocked the nation.
The North Melbourne coach was visibly emotional on Sunday when asked about the horrific incident before his team’s game against Geelong.
Six people died after a stabbing spree in Bondi over the weekend
Ex-Roo’s daughter Ashlee Good killed in mass Bondi stabbing attack
Earlier in the day it had been revealed that one of the victims, Ashlee Good, was the daughter of former North Melbourne great Kerry Good.
The 38-year-old woman died hours after she and her daughter were stabbed in the shocking attack.
Good’s family has confirmed that the baby is now “doing well” following emergency surgery.
Clarkson became emotional when discussing the tragedy, mentioning recent unrelated incidents in Victoria involving the deaths of Samantha Murphy and Hannah McGuire.
‘It’s difficult for the Good family to have to deal with that tragedy, obviously. “It’s difficult for all of us to face it,” he said.
To be fair, you’re just sick of this. We have three families in Ballarat grieving. The same thing happens to us after every one of them, drugs or alcohol, and yet as a society, as a government, we say: “Our fellow Australians, we are mourning our lost ones again.”
‘When is it really going to change? When are people really going to do something about this scourge of society that is drugs and alcohol?
North Melbourne wore black armbands for last Sunday’s game against Geelong
‘The government is not doing anything about it to the extent that it should. Drugs are a problem in our sport and we don’t do enough about it and we should. And it is paralyzing society. And this is one of the best countries in the world, but we can do something about it. But we simply tolerate it and do not oppose it.
‘And then tragedies like this happen and it’s just… I really feel for everyone connected to this. I feel sorry for those families in Ballarat.
‘I spent three years in the Ballarat area as a child, going to school and to think that community, that beautiful, close-knit community, they are suffering too.
‘In this country, this should not happen like this. We need to do something about it. He is not a single person. There’s got to be a lot of people pushing… Our judicial system doesn’t… a lot of times they say, “Oh yeah, he was out on bail or on parole” or whatever. It just has to stop. It has to stop.
—That poor girl, Harriet, now without her mother. Ash Good was a very, very beautiful lady.
‘A bloody tragedy. A bloody tragedy.