The Carlton Football Club is proud to this week celebrate 10 years of its flagship community initiative Carlton Respects, culminating in Friday night’s blockbuster when the Blues take on the Cats under the lights of the MCG. 

One of the Club’s longest standing initiatives, Carlton Respects celebrates 10 years of championing gender equality and playing a role in the prevention of violence against women. 

The week will begin with a special dinner to celebrate a decade of Carlton Respects with the anniversary an opportunity to acknowledge the Clubs achievements whilst also thanking the many people and organisations who have shaped the initiative.    

Since launching in 2016, Carlton Respects has reached tens of thousands of Australians through education, awareness, and community action. 

Australians agree that violence against women needs to end, and Carlton Respects contributes to the solution through an education program with impact. The Road to Respect school program has seen nearly 30,000 students educated across more than 1,200 classrooms, equipping young people with the skills to manage their emotions, ask for help, build respectful relationships, and challenge harmful gender stereotypes - building the foundations for a more respectful future. 

The theme for the 2026 campaign is “Respect, it's up to us”, a call to action for everyone to play their part in stopping violence before it starts. As gender-based violence continues to devastate Australian families, the Club is focused on changing attitudes, awareness, and behaviours to build a future where violence against women no longer exists. 

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Respect, it's up to us | 10 years of Carlton Respects

2026 is a special year for Carlton Respects, where we celebrate the initiative’s 10-year anniversary. A decade of impact that we are proud of. We celebrate our achievements, thank the people and stories that have shaped our purpose, and direct our focus on the next 10 years of impact.

On Friday night, Carlton's players will once again take the field in a specially designed Carlton Respects guernsey, featuring the raised monogram for the first time and paired with orange socks. Orange is the international colour of respect, symbolising hope and a shared commitment to ending violence against women and girls. 

The match will include a special pre-game moment, which will honour and remember those who have lost their lives or have been affected by violence. Artist Mia Wray will perform a moving rendition of Resolution whilst surrounded by 79 orange lights – the number of women who lost their life in 2025 to violence. 

Further, at quarter time the Race for Respect returns to raise funds and awareness for Carlton Respects. Featuring a number of relay teams made up of current or former AFL and AFLW players, students involved with the Road to Respect schools’ program, and representatives from generous match-day partners supporting the initiative. 

Fans are encouraged to get to the game, wear the merch, and join the conversation on social media to amplify the important message. For those that can’t make the game, virtual seats can be purchased online at a chosen price point to support the initiative, with all proceeds going to the Carlton Respects program. 

Carlton CEO Graham Wright said the Club was honoured to be acknowledging 10 years of Carlton Respects. 

"Reaching the 10-year milestone of Carlton Respects is something our entire Club is enormously proud of,” Wright said. 

“From nearly 30,000 students in our Road to Respect schools' program, to the $1.18 million raised, we’re incredibly appreciative of the support from our Carlton Respects partners, ambassadors, experts, educators, donors, and all who have contributed to Carlton Respects along the journey. 

"This week is a chance for our whole Carlton community to come together and drive genuine change. We encourage every Bluebagger to get to the MCG this Friday night as we raise awareness about a societal issue that continues to have a devastating impact on so many Australian families." 

If you wish to support Carlton Respects, please click here to donate today. Or get your local primary school involved in our Road to Respect program here.   

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au. If you, a child, or another person is in immediate danger, call 000.