Kevin Sheedy’s latest blockbuster initiative has come at the perfect time according to those living on the land.

Essendon will play Geelong in round four next season in the first annual ‘Country Game’.

The match will raise awareness about the contribution those outside the big cities make to the nation and the difficulties they face.

Ross Ditchburn is a former Carlton premiership player and now runs a farm in Western Australia.

He said the game will help educate those in metropolitan areas.

“It gives people a real opportunity to get an insight into what happens on the land,” he told SEN.

Ditchburn said the financial pressures farmers face in times of drought has caused significant trauma for families.

He has an association with Regional Men’s Health which encourages those in the bush to ‘talk to a mate’ if they’re feeling the strain.

“We have good seasons and bad seasons.  We’re experiencing a pretty difficult one at the moment,” he said. 

“It didn’t rain in September, all the crops have dried off. 

“The incomes of farmers have been severely depleted through an act of God really. 

“It’s good that Sheeds is pushing this concept to enable people to understand exactly what happens in the bush.”