IN A SHOW of support for the Muslim community following the recent terror attack in New Zealand, the AFL will observe a minute's silence during its season-opener between Richmond and Carlton at the MCG on Thursday night. 

Teams in all nine games across round one will also wear black armbands as a mark of respect to the 50 people killed at two mosques in Christchurch on Friday. 

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan has also written to key organisations in the Muslim community to express the League's sorrow and to offer support. 

Richmond veteran Bachar Houli, just the second devout Muslim to play at AFL level, will form a key part of the Tigers' running brigade in a game expected to attract a crowd in excess of 90,000 people.