Local football teams will show support for Victoria Police and fallen police officers Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, who were killed in the line of duty this week.
Players across the Ovens and Murray and Ovens and King football netball leagues are expected to wear arm bands as a tribute to Det Sen Const Thompson and Sen Const De Waart.
AFL Border North East regional manager Zac Hedin said he's also been working with the Wangaratta and Albury-Wodonga junior leagues, and the TDFL talking about the wearing of arm bands at this weekend's matches.
He said these will be blue arm bands and they are looking to source the checkered blue and white arm bands which have been worn in the past.
"In the Wangaratta junior finals this weekend we have plenty of kids coming down from Bright and those who live around Porepunkah too, so we're pretty considerate of that," Mr Hedin said.
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Rovers Football Netball Club player Trey Vincent said all the players will wear arm bands to show support for the local police officers who were killed.
"No one should have to go to their job and not come home, they protect our community and we need to show our thanks for that," Trey said.
Acting Sergeant Kelsey O'Bryan said "it's really appreciated and it's really nice to have the entire community to come together and support police, the families and the entire community.
"It's a big deal for us, it's recognised and appreciated," she said.
Act Sgt O'Bryan also praised the community for their tributes that have been placed in the entry foyer of the Wangaratta Police Station.
"It's beautiful and appreciated as it touches the whole community," she said.
Det Led Sen Const Thompson joined Victoria Police in September 1987 after completing his training and spent seven years in general duties at Collingwood police.
For the next decade, he worked as a detective at the Major Fraud Squad and the State Crime Squad.
Sen Const De Waart was on temporary assignment in Wangaratta and was a part of the Public Order Response Team since 2023.
