THE 2022 AFL Carlton Respects Game will see the Club reach a new level of awareness raising for gender equality and the prevention of violence against women.

For the first time, the Club has tonight launched its inaugural Carlton Respects guernsey, which will be worn in the seventh annual AFL Carlton Respects Game at next Friday night’s blockbuster against St Kilda.

Carlton vice-captain Sam Walsh and forward Charlie Curnow visited Carlton Gardens Primary School to help launch the guernsey with 20 Grade 5/6 students. [Insert link to video]

Since 2016, the Club’s AFL side has worn orange socks, the international colour of harmony, in one game each year. This has been done in response to the alarming statistics surrounding domestic and family violence. The AFLW side has done the same since 2018.

These statistics sadly see, on average, one woman a week murdered by her current or former partner, while just shy of one in three women (30.5 per cent) have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.

Key statistics:

• One in two women have experienced sexual harassment since the age of 15.
• Every two minutes, Australian police are called out to a domestic violence incident.
• From 2020-2021, approximately 86,000 calls for help were made to the Safe Steps Family Violence response centre.
• Almost 10 women a day are hospitalised due to assault and injuries from a spouse or domestic partner.

Carlton Respects is the Carlton Football Club’s flagship community program aimed at highlighting this devastating issue.

As well as raising awareness for the prevention of violence against women, the program has grown significantly to include a landmark school and workplace charter program, which seeks to educate young students and workplaces about respect and equality.

The Club is also currently developing an online digital learning platform for students aged eight to 12 that will extend the Carlton Respects program reach nationally to students across the country.

Carlton forward Charlie Curnow has been involved in promoting awareness for the Carlton Respects program over several years and believes it is an important initiative that the Club pursues.

“It is an honour to play in our Carlton Respects Game. The program is now a core part of our football club and the chance to raise awareness for an issue that devastates so many families around Australia is a responsibility we don’t take for granted,” Curnow said.

“We are fortunate to have extensive education into the Carlton Respects program as a playing group so whatever we can do to promote gender equality and respect, we hope it can make a difference.

“We love seeing a sea of orange in the stands for each Carlton Respects Game and are looking forward to wearing the special guernsey as well as our orange socks against the Saints.”

Carlton CEO Brian Cook said the Carlton Respects schools program in particular is a crucial initiative to ensure the message is received at all levels.

“The Carlton Respects program is such an important part of what we do as a football club and we look forward to this fixture each AFL and AFLW season,” Cook said.

“The schools program is essential to educate students on respect and equality with an aim to stopping violence before it starts, and proceeds from the sale of the Carlton Respects guernsey will go towards building that platform.

“The Carlton community has always been very supportive of this initiative and we thank our supporters for their commitment to the Carlton Respects program.”

Part proceeds from the sale of Carlton Respects merchandise, including the auctioning of player-issued guernseys, will fund the schools program and digital learning platform to assist in the Club’s vision to contribute towards an Australia free from violence.

To purchase your own piece of Carlton Respects merchandise, click here. 

If you, a child, or another person is in immediate danger, call 000. For sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service call 1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732 for 24/7 phone and online services.