What the AFL can teach the NRL about respect for women

It’s far from perfect, but the AFL has a much better record on zero tolerance for disrespect for women than the NRL. Here’s the lessons the NRL can learn, writes Megan Hustwaite.

There have been some concerning developments in the NRL and the code would do well to take a leaf out of the AFL’s play book.

Since the 2018 Grand Final on September 30, five, yes five, players have been charged with alleged assault crimes in the off-season.

First there was Jarryd Hayne, then Dylan Walker followed by Zane Musgrove, Liam Coleman came next then Origin star Jack de Belin.

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This comes off the back of a year where North Queensland Cowboy Scott Bolton was arrested and charged in May for allegedly assaulting a woman during a night out in Bondi and Manly rookie Manase Fainu escaped conviction after pleading guilty to filming a sex act without consent in September.

And while those players who have been charged are entitled to the presumption of innocence, the events reflect everyday life where countless men are charged with acts of domestic violence. Sadly, we live in a society where one in three Australian women will be a victim of domestic or sexual violence at the hands of a person they know.

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Manase Fainu pleased guilty but avoided a criminal conviction for filming a woman during sex without her consent. Picture: Brett Costello

The AFL hasn’t always had a clean slate but in 2017, after Richmond premiership player Nathan Broad received a club-imposed sanction for circulating a photo of a woman without her consent, updated its respect and responsibility policy for the first time since 2004.

It was long overdue but the AFL has since made quick ground and crucial progress.

Headed up by the league’s manager for inclusion and social policy Tanya Hosch, the policy established concrete guidelines for the AFL and its clubs involving offences against women, created an anonymous harassment complaints portal on its website and provided counselling and support for complainants.

This precedent and standard comes based on the advice of an expert committee led by Carlton board member and sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins, Essendon board member, former police commissioner and chair of the advisory council on family violence Ken Lay, professor of indigenous research Larissa Behrendt and Our Watch chief executive Mary Barry.

While the AFL hasn’t been marred with the kind of cultural and behaviour issues its NRL counterparts have encountered in recent months, Aussie rules is not immune. In the past few years the likes of retired Nick Stevens, Shannon Grant and Justin Murphy have all been convicted on sickening domestic violence charges.

You can have all the policies in place that you like but they only guide behaviour — it’s how leaders respond to them that determines success.

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Brisbane Broncos player Matt Lodge returned to the NRL despite being convicted of a violent attack on a New York family, and pleading guilty to assaulting his then girlfriend. Picture: Darren England/AAP

The most profound example is that of Geelong champion, three-time premiership player and Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel who in 2016 publicly revealed the domestic violence he and his two sisters were exposed to as a child, their mother a victim of their father.

He would grow a beard for the entire season to raise money for his own Face Up to DV campaign with funds split between The Luke Batty Foundation and Bethany, a Geelong-based family services organisation.

Bartel’s own personal tale was raw and confronting but his honestly and leadership made men sit up and pay attention.

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The AFL’s record is better than the NRL’s, but it’s not perfect. Nick Stevens is one of several former AFL players convicted of domestic violence. Picture: James Ross/AAP

It’s also time the football codes in this country, the NRL, AFL, Rugby Australia and the FFA, form an alliance and institute a no tolerance policy for disrespect of women.

Any footballer convicted of sexual assault or domestic violence should have their contract terminated and be ineligible to join a rival football code. Banned from the NRL? Code hop to another sport. No. Message sent.

NRL players and leaders must demand convicted offenders lose their contracts, following the lead of the West Tigers who have a zero tolerance of violence against women and will tear up a contract should a player be found guilty of domestic violence or sexual assault — a stand led by club chair Marina Go and chief executive Justin Pascoe.

The NRL has a culture issue and despite their successes around women in league and its female competition, it continues to be damaged by the unacceptable behaviour of some of its male players.

It’s over to the administration and its men, the players who represent this code, to take a stand.

Megan Hustwaite is a freelance sport writer.

@MeganHustwaite

Originally published as What the AFL can teach the NRL about respect for women