Mr Biviano, 39, played 125 games for the Hawks, and the club's shocked members have rallied around their friend and teammate.

The Maitland plasterer remains in a critical condition and is being kept in a drug-induced coma by doctors, after being turned on by two brawling groups he tried to pull apart last Saturday morning.

Cardiff Hawks president Peter Risby said the club will hold a fund-raiser for Mr Biviano's ex-wife and his two children in December.

Mr Risby said four Sydney Swans players, including Craig Bird and Jesse White, will be attending.

"He's a tremendous bloke and we want to do as much as we can for him and for his family," Mr Risby said.

Cardiff Hawks teammate and former coach Adam Dugan said Mr Biviano was a top bloke.

"I've never seen him get aggressive . . . on or off the footy field," Mr Dugan said.

"The story is that he was acting as peacemaker, and this fits with his character."

Mr Dugan and other club members visited Mr Biviano in hospital this week.

"Even with all the tubes and bandages you can see that his head has been banged up quite severely, with noticeable swelling around the eyes," Mr Dugan said.

"It was confronting to see such a big, healthy man like Tom in such a vulnerable condition."

Mr Biviano's family have been told that should he awake from the coma, it could take several years for him to recover from the serious head injuries he suffered.

His condition is listed as critical, but stable.

Details of the fund-raiser will be soon available.