Swans Shaun Edwards with teammates Luke Parker and Callum Sinclair who will throw their support behind Step Back Think. Picture: Phil Hillyard

When the Swans run onto the SCG against Fremantle on Saturday they will be wearing orange bootlaces to support the worthy cause.

Callum Sinclair, Isaac Heeney and Shaun Edwards share the common bond of having people close to them involved in tragic acts of violence.

In 2007, Shannon McCormack died after being king hit outside the Queensbridge Hotel in Melbourne. Shannon’s sister Elisha is married to Sinclair’s older brother Andrew.

Callum has supported Elisha in honouring Shannon in the past by wearing a black armband and for the last two years has worn the orange laces.

Luke Parker, Shaun Edwards and Callum Sinclair will throw their support behind Step Back Think. Picture. Phil HillyardSource:News Corp Australia

“The laces create a conversation,” Sinclair said. “It’s people at our age that are in the most danger from these sorts of things, when we get out on the weekends and enjoy ourselves.

“All it takes is some poor judgment or taking it a step too far and the outcome can be pretty dramatic, which is what happened to my brother-in-law.”

Edwards lost one of his closest friends when 21-year-old Joshua Hardy was murdered outside a McDonald’s restaurant on St Kilda Rd in Melbourne in 2014.

Edwards and Hardy came from Darwin and had attended Melbourne Grammar together. Hardy was studying law at Melbourne University and had attended a valedictory dinner the night before his death.

Like Shaun, he was an Aboriginal man and a mentor and inspiration among his community.

“Until something like this happens to you, you’re not really aware of how often they do,” Edwards said.

Shaun Edwards throws his support behind Step Back Think. Players will wear orange boot laces. Picture: Phil HillyardSource:News Corp Australia

“If there is one positive to come out of it, it’s educating people. Young men in particular need to know there are consequences to their actions. It’s not cool and not the way to show your manliness.

In Josh’s case they were devastating to family and friends, he lost his life.

“Step back and think about your actions. In a short amount of time it can change your life and others’ forever.”

Heeney was involved in a violent incident when he was assaulted as he tried to get into a taxi in Hong Kong while on an end-of-season trip with 12 Swans teammates in 2015. He posted a photo from his hospital bed on Instagram labelling the attack gutless.

A former teammate of Heeney’s at Cardiff in the Hunter Valley, Tom Biviano, was the victim of a similar unprovoked attack in Maitland in 2009 and remains in a wheelchair after suffering massive brain injuries.

Originally published as Swans players step back and think