Essendon and Collingwood say clubs have a responsibility to show leadership in condemning violence against women, as the AFL formulates how the code will speak out on the issue in this weekend’s matches.
The AFL’s move follows a letter written by West Coast chief executive Don Pyke, addressed to the league and then sent to clubs, urging the competition to take a united and public stance in all nine matches of this season. round.
Pyke wrote the letter after watching tens of thousands of Australians march across the country on Sunday to demonstrate against gender-based violence in the wake of a rise in the number of women murdered this year.
“The figures… are horrendous to see,” Pyke told ABC Radio Perth.
Pyke said the clubs had responded to his call to arms with “virtually” unanimous support.
ABC Sport understands the AFL is working on a league-wide response for each game this weekend.
Bombers coach Brad Scott said the AFL had led the way by highlighting social and community issues.
“I think we should lead on that front,” Scott said.
“I fully support what Pykey is proposing. But on the other hand, I’m disappointed that we have to talk about it.
“We’ve come this far and we’re still talking about these things that just shouldn’t be happening and the reality is that they are.”
The issue is particularly personal for the Bombers. Four of his players attended the funeral of 23-year-old Victorian woman Hannah McGuire on Monday, including her cousin Nick Hind.
“Any role we can play in raising awareness about this issue and fixing things, we should do it,” Scott said.
“AFL football is very popular… and we can lead by example.”
Collingwood coach Craig McRae described Pyke’s letter as a sign of “great leadership”.
“We’re here to represent the broader community and we’d like to think we can be a role model,” McRae said.
“I know within our four walls we talk about it all the time. We talk about being a great father or a great husband, being whatever that looks like to the community.
“We have some things in the pipeline to provide our support and hopefully again give the community a strong message.”
Scott was also asked about Essendon’s position on Tarryn Thomas, the former North Melbourne player sacked by his club in February for repeated instances of inappropriate behavior towards women.
Thomas, 23, was suspended for 18 games but could eventually return to the AFL if he completes a behavior change program.
“The reality is that there are people from privileged backgrounds who have had every opportunity in life and there are others who haven’t,” Scott said.
“People will make mistakes and as a leader, coach and parent, the responsibility is for people to learn from their mistakes.
“In Tarryn’s case, my opinion is supportive. He has made some mistakes, but I have known Tarryn since he was 14 and my opinion is that he is a good person.
“Do we as an industry just wash our hands of it and say we’re done with it or do we help it? I’d rather sit in the helping camp.”
Scott acknowledged how some in the community would label that position as a contradiction to the club’s condemnation of violence against women.
“The AFL offers an incredible structure for young people and if they were my children, would I want them involved in the structure and support networks of an AFL club or would I want them to go out into society and hope for the best?” he said.
Pyke said it was up to the AFL to decide whether Thomas deserved another chance if he completed his rehabilitation programme.
“Players are human and they make mistakes, and it’s a question of whether they can really rehabilitate themselves in the space where they made that mistake,” Pyke said.
“And then they deserve another chance? Others will decide that.”
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