AFL: No-fault stand-down policy is not for us, says Gillon McLachlan

Gillon McLachlan says introducing a no-fault stand-down policy for players facing serious charges is not a path the league wants to take.

Jordan De Goey was back in action for the Magpies on Monday night. Picture: Michael Klein

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan says introducing a no-fault stand-down policy for players facing serious criminal charges is not a path the league currently wants to take.

He says the AFL will continue to review its position on violence against women, but has no plans to replicate the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy.

McLachlan said the league “condemns and abhors all forms of violence towards women” and that its own respect and responsibility policy had been set up to primarily support victims.

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“The Respect and Responsibility policy is deliberately victim-centric to ensure that the wishes of the person making a complaint are what drives our actions,” McLachlan said.

“Support and counselling is provided to all women making a complaint and – where appropriate – their families, and where any matter is a criminal matter, complainants are encouraged to go to police – and we support them through that process.

“The wellbeing of victims and support for all parties in any incident is our major concern and the review found that blanket media coverage was discouraging women coming forward, which was the opposite of what we wanted.”

McLachlan said that the league’s respect and responsibility policy – which was launched in 2005 – had undergone “a major review” led by sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins “several years ago” and was continually considered.

“The policy … is reviewed annually by the AFL Commission after discussions with management and clubs and feedback from all parties involved in our complaints processes,” he said.

“The decision to automatically stand down a player charged with a serious criminal matter has also been suggested, but the AFL has decided – on balance – to leave the policy as is, given the presumption of innocence is also an important part of the justice system.

“We will continue to listen to those whose complaints are dealt with through this policy as well as the experts and we will continue to review the policy each year.”

A petition for the league to introduce a no-fault stand-down policy like the NRL – which allows the league to use its discretionary powers to stand down players who are facing serious criminal charges until all proceedings are concluded – had on Monday garnered more than 13,000 signatures online.

Collingwood forward Jordan De Goey made his return to playing on Monday night, with his return to the game having earlier in the season sparked calls for a stronger policy given he is facing charges of indecent assault relating to an alleged incident in 2018.

The league’s integrity team and Victoria Police investigated De Goey’s conduct in 2018 but no charges were laid, before he and another 24-year-old man were hit with charges in July.

Herald Sun