AFL General Manager Football Operations Mark Evans today announced the AFL would now commence displaying pre-game messages on AFL scoreboards from the match-day teams to address recent concerns around spectator behaviour.

Earlier this year, Mr Evans had flagged the introduction of messages to supporters from their club stars and these had now been filmed for all 18 teams and would be used from Round 10 onwards, commencing with tonight’s game between the Brisbane Lions and Collingwood at the Gabba. For each game for the remainder of the season, the message to each competing club’s fans and members will be played for the two clubs at the venue.

“It is extremely important to our players, our clubs and the AFL that all fans attending our matches are entitled to enjoy games without being subject to poor behaviour by other supporters around them in the venue,” Mr Evans said.

“Barracking hard for your team and good-natured banter with the opposition fans has been part of our game for more than a century but there is no place for vitriol and any form of serious abuse, be that racist attacks or other deeply personal slights on our players and or rival fans.

“Our players, through the annual meeting of club captains with the AFL Commission, have raised this issue as a concern for them while recent events have also highlighted the need for continued education for some fans on the standards that supporters are entitled to expect when they attend AFL matches.

“We are extremely proud that more than seven million fans – families, men, women and children - attend AFL matches every season, with no need for separation between our rival teams as we push our teams on towards success, and we want this to remain a part of our game forever.

“In the pre-game period immediately before the start of each match, a message from both the home team and the away team will be played, as all clubs are seeking the same outcome across the competition,” he said.

ends

Patrick Keane

AFL media manager