When you’re a young kid growing up all your parents want for you are the best opportunities in life, to be the best you can be in whatever you choose to do. At some point as a young person there will come a time in your life when you need to stand on your own two feet, to branch out, to start your own journey.

I’m not a parent myself, but I have the sense that when a child leaves home to start on their own path in life you hope all the values you taught them will keep them safe and guide them in the right direction.

I first met Josh Hardy at St Mary’s Football Club training. I was only 17 or 18 myself, and his dad Dave was the team runner and someone I had known for a long time. After back and forth trips from Melbourne I would bump into Dave and he would also update me on his boy, how well he was doing and how he was studying arts and law, you could see how proud he was.

Josh was taken from his family and friends as a result of a senseless act, a result of that all too common phrase, “one-punch”.

Two weeks ago I received a phone call from Josh’s dad Dave and he spoke about the Step Back. THINK organisation and asked if NT Thunder would support it. Without a moment of hesitation I said yes.

Sport plays a big part in many lives: players, supporters, staff, family and community. In some ways it changes lives. It’s a platform for social change and delivering key messages to the broader community.

The NT Thunder Football Club, in collaboration with the Brisbane Lions, will wear orange laces this weekend in support of Step Back. THINK and its Team Lace Up campaign. This gesture plays just a small role in showing our support for cultural change and our commitment to ending social violence.

Get down to TIO tonight, get behind our boys and together we all can make a difference.

Dedicated to Joshua Hardy.