THE CARLTON Football Club recently held its tenth annual AFL Carlton Respects Game, marking another significant milestone in the ongoing commitment to achieve respect and equality for a future free from violence.

The Carlton Respects initiative, established in 2016 in response to the alarming statistics around family and domestic violence, continues to drive awareness and action through education, partnerships, and leadership.

This year’s campaign theme, "Respect starts with us," resonates deeply with the Club’s mission. The statistics remain sobering: in 2024, one woman every four days has lost her life to family or domestic violence, and two in five women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15. These figures underscore the urgent need for initiatives like Carlton Respects, which aims to stop violence before it starts.

Carlton Respects encompasses three core programs: the ‘Road to Respect’ school program, Workplace Charter, and AFL/AFLW Awareness Raising games. Each program uses the power of the Club to foster a culture of respect and equality.

The AFL game took place on Saturday 19 July at the MCG, with 40 869 in attendance to see the Blues defeat the Demons by eight points.

This year, the Club raised over $200,000 to help grow the Road to Respect school program in reach and impact, while also supporting women and children directly affected by violence.

Road to Respect is the cornerstone of Carlton’s efforts. This free digital learning platform and face-to-face primary school program aim to help students manage their emotions, seek help, break down unhelpful gender stereotypes, and develop respectful relationships.

In June, the Blues invited primary school students from Carlton Garden Primary School and Macleod College - who had completed the Road to Respect program - to undertake the Back to School Day, for an exclusive first look at the new and refreshed platform, with each student giving an overwhelmingly positive response.

To continue to champion and celebrate the primary schools that took part in the Road to Respect program in 2024, the Club has included each school’s name on the back of this year’s Carlton Respects guernsey. The Club has also invited a student representative from each school to wear their very own guernsey and cheer on the Blues when they ran through the Guard of Honour at the MCG against Melbourne.

In an exciting advancement this year, members and supporters who could not attend the match in person had the opportunity to purchase a virtual seat at varying price points, in which all proceeds went towards the Carlton Respects program, helping the Club achieve Respect for a brighter future.

The awareness-raising efforts have also gained significant traction. A powerful video featuring Marc Pittonet and Harriet Cordner highlighted some of the realities of gender inequality in our society. This video - along with the heartfelt footage of the Unwins sharing their raw and powerful story with the Club - garnered a collective total of over 600,000 views on social media.

The Carlton Respects pre-game “Moment of Pause” activation was a powerful moment of silence, followed by a performance from Jessica Hitchcock. The MCG lights were switched off, and the crowd shone their own lights in solidarity to honour the 78 women and children who have lost their lives to family or domestic violence.

The funds raised will play a vital role in growing the reach and impact of Road to Respect, with an ambitious goal to engage 40,000 students by 2027. This expansion strengthens Carlton’s ongoing commitment to educating young people and shaping attitudes of respect and equality from the ground up.

Carlton extends its sincere thanks to Gold Partner, Bupa, who donated $1 to Carlton Respects for every person who attended the game. Thanks also to Silver partners – Anaconda, Ampol, Sherridon Homes and VicHealth who donated $1000 to Carlton Respects per match goal (Carlton and Melbourne), as well as Bronze partners Figure 3 Construction, Great Southern Bank and One Love who donated $1000 to Carlton Respects per Carlton goal.

Carlton Respects is more than just a campaign — it’s a collective movement towards a future where respect and equality are standard, not a standout.

Carlton’s strength as a Club lies in its commitment to primary prevention. With the support of industry experts and those with lived experience, we continue to take meaningful steps towards shifting attitudes, raising awareness, and encouraging behaviours that support a more gender-equitable future.

We’re proud of the impact we’ve made over the past decade and remain dedicated to being a force for change.

As we reflect on this year’s AFL Carlton Respects game and look ahead to the AFLW Carlton Respects clash in Round 11, we’re inspired by the ongoing support and engagement of our community and partners.