Caterina Politi calls for more to be done about local footy violence

A mother still grieving after her son was killed by a coward punch is begging local footy leagues to take urgent steps to stop punches being thrown on the field.

Caterina Politi. Photo: AAP

Victims advocates and the AFL are demanding local footy leagues crack down harder on on-field violence following a series of horror incidents across the state.

In recent weeks, police have been called to local games after brawls broke out between players and spectators while some, including former AFL player Cameron Cloke, have been forced to retire after behind the play incidents.

Head of Stop One Punch Can Kill Caterina Politi, who founded the organisation after her son David was killed with a coward punch on New Year’s Eve in 2012, said leagues had “come a long way, but there’s still more to do”.

“Obviously it’s not enough if it’s still happening,” she said.

“They’ve got to continually reiterate their expectations of good behaviour, good sportsmanship and clubmanship (sic), representing their team but also they (local leagues) are an arm of the AFL.

“So if the AFL are also allowing this behaviour to continue with these subsidiary leagues, well, that’s not good, it reflects all the way from the top down to the bottom.

“Maybe if the league itself is fined by the AFL, that’s going to hurt their hip-pocket. Bringing the game into disrepute, whatever it is.

“I know people are passionate about sport, but at the end of the day, it’s only sport – it’s not worth risking lives and that punch that could be the difference between continuing to play footy or having to stop, or having a life-altering injury that’s going to impact your whole life.

“Once you close that fist, that’s an instant weapon.

“If my only problem in life was me losing (a football match), as compared to losing my son who was killed with one punch … you’ve got to set the standard of what’s really valuable.

“It is just a game.”

Legendary local footy coach Gary Ayres.

Former Port Melbourne VFL coach Gary Ayres said player safety remained paramount for everyone on field.

Now coaching Montrose in the Eastern league, Ayres said everyone who takes to the field should have an “understanding of what the rules are”.

“There are emotional things that are always going to happen in our caper, but we have to make sure that the rules are abided by and we don’t overstep the mark.

“If it is, then the judiciary has to come down hard and stamp that side of it out.

“I don’t think anyone has an issue with anyone barracking and supporting their side, it’s when it becomes the next step that is an issue.

“It’s up to the clubs to get people to police that and if it is, then they are chucked out for life, there’s no hedging around what’s going on, if they’re members of the club then they have to be investigated and then taken out of that environment.”

The AFL currently has several initiatives in place attempting to deal with violent issues across the state including the introducing of white cards and a ‘sit down round’.

There is a demand to stop on field violence.

There has also been bolstered resourced at the game’s governing body to deal with integrity or security matters.

“AFL Victoria strongly condemns any abuse and violence in community football. There is simply no place for it in our game, at any level,” An AFL Victoria spokesperson said.

“There are a number of initiatives being implemented and trialled to address these challenges at a community level and AFL Victoria will continue to support leagues and associations across the state and work with relevant authorities, where appropriate.”

Ms Politi said everyone in local footy needed to take a look at themselves.

“What are the repercussions if they do behave badly and do injure someone on the sporting field or off? That white line of the boundary – it should be an offence either way (whether) it’s on the field or off the field.

“There’s got to be better punishment for it.

“When you see spectators that intervene and become part of the problem, that’s taking it way too far.”