By Michael Gleeson
The AFL Commission and all club presidents, including Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, and chief executives will be delivered an extraordinary address on prevention of violence against women at their next meetings.
AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick has invited advocacy group Our Watch to separately address the next AFL Commission meeting in July and then talk to all AFL presidents and CEOs about preventing violence against women and children when the club chiefs meet in September.
Eddie McGuire will be among club presidents addressed by the Our Watch groupCredit: Luis Ascui
The move comes after McGuire and North Melbourne president James Brayshaw were both forced to publicly apologise for a Triple M segment in which they laughed about holding Fairfax journalist Caroline Wilson's head under ice water.
Our Watch CEO Mary Barry requested the round table of all club presidents after the McGuire comments.
"Last week's comments show much more work there is to be done. The Commission is determined that our code be part of the solution to violence against women, and we want our partnership with Our Watch to deliver real and measurable change," Fitzpatrick said.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan will meet with Ms Barry on Monday to discuss "[mapping] out a plan of action for the AFL's commitment to prevent violence against women".
Only a week before the radio comments were made on Queen's Birthday the AFL had joined the ARU, Netball Australia and the NRL in signing on to work with Our Watch to take action to prevent violence against women.
"Violence against women is no joke. There is clear evidence to show that sexism and misogynistic attitudes create a culture where violence against women is tolerated," Ms Barry said.
"What the last week has shown is that Australians will no longer accept comments that trivialise or jokes that condone violence against women. Our culture is changing for the better and no one, including the sporting community, can afford to be left behind," Ms Barry said.
"Prevention work is about far more than simply raising awareness. Everything is on the table here, including participation by women at all levels of the sport, including the clubrooms and the boardrooms. It's also about making sure that the policies and practices of the organisation reflect expectations – and ensuring that there are consequences if they aren't met."