On Sunday Carlton will face Collingwood at the Gabba for the 11th annual Richard Pratt Medal in a clash that raises awareness for prostate cancer in Australia.

In 2009, the Pratt Foundation and both Carlton and Collingwood hosted the inaugural fixture in honour of the late Richard Pratt, who lost his battle with prostate cancer earlier that year.

Pratt was a former player, committeeman, major donor and president of the Carlton Football Club.

The match is played in honour of Pratt but also to highlight the importance of early diagnosis of prostate cancer

To this point, there are no proven measures to prevent prostate cancer, with early detection and treatment significantly improving Australian males’ chances of beating prostate cancer.

As it stands in 2020, the five year survival rate for prostate cancer is promising at 95%.

The staggering statistics for Australian men continue in 2020.

Prostate cancer facts

- Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia and the most common among Australian men.
- An estimated 16,741 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2020
- Tragically, there will be an estimated 3,152 deaths from prostate cancer in 2020
- One in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer by the age of 85.

The Pratt Foundation established a fellowship in 2011, aiming to identify significantly improved treatment for sufferers of prostate cancer.

Every year since, the foundation has committed $100,000 to an individual applicant who is conducting translational research in prostate cancer with the match-raising funds going towards the fellowship.

This will be the 11th match for the Richard Pratt Medal, since the first game in 2009. There was no match in 2017 as Carlton didn’t host the Pies due to the fixture.