Collingwood coach Craig McRae has applauded a clubs-led push for the AFL to speak out and condemn violence against women.
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AFL players, coaches and umpires will observe a moment's silence to honour the victims of domestic violence during this weekend's round of games, which starts in Adelaide on Thursday night.
West Coast chief executive Don Pyke made the initial call for the AFL to highlight the issue, with clubs lining up to back the former Adelaide coach's proposal.
"We're here to represent our broader community and I'd like to think that we can role-model behaviour," McRae said at Magpies training on Wednesday.
"Inside our four walls, we talk all the time about being a great dad, or being a great husband, or whatever it looks like for the community."
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday met with state and territory leaders to discuss ways to reduce gendered violence.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the football industry had an opportunity to make a strong stand and bring awareness to the issue.
"When it comes to violence against women, the only acceptable figure is zero." Dillon said in a statement.
"This weekend we will unite and remember all the women who have been killed as a result of gender-based violence and stand in solidarity in committing to do more to stop this community-wide problem."
The AFL's social policy and inclusion manager Tanya Hosch hoped the league's stance would help drive cultural change.
"This year alone there have been 29 women murdered in acts of gender-based violence," Hosch said.
"We have a collective responsibility as a sporting code to call it out and say: you can prevent violence against women, against your daughters, mothers, sisters, friends and colleagues.
"One woman is killed every nine days by a current or former partner.
"One in four women has experienced physical violence at the hands of a current and former partner and this does not include all the other physical and emotional abuse that is happening."
McRae hailed Pyke's intervention as "great leadership" and said he had already discussed the initiative with Collingwood's chief executive Craig Kelly.
"We've got some things in the pipeline ... (Kelly) had a bounce in his step about things that we can contribute," the reigning premiership coach said.
Collingwood will face off against Carlton at the MCG on Friday night.
Established in 2016, the Blues have developed a 'Carlton Respects' program that aims to nurture equality and respect in schools, workplaces, and the general community.
The number of women killed by intimate partners in Australia rose by 28 per cent in the 2022/23 financial year, with 89 per cent of intimate-partner homicide victims being women, according to a report by the Australian Institute of Criminology.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
Australian Associated Press
