IT’S seven years now since the inaugural AFL Carlton Respects Game was played out before Joseph Robinette Biden jnr. – the then American Vice-President who in January 2021 landed the top job despite Donald Trump’s protestations.
It happened at the MCG on the afternoon of Sunday, July 17, 2016, when Biden decamped the presidential limousine (dubbed “The Beast”) and purposefully made his way onto the paddock that grew.
With members of secret service ever present, Biden exchanged pleasantries with the then MCC President Steven Smith, AFL Chairman and three-time Carlton premiership ruckman Mike Fitzpatrick, CEO Gillon McLachlan, and Carlton President Mark LoGiudice and CEO Steven Trigg. Biden also accepted a dark Navy Blue guernsey from the sidelined Carlton captain Marc Murphy - who had not played since incurring a serious ankle injury against Geelong in Round 10 – and ‘Murph’ this week reflected on the moment he met the man who would become the 46th President of the United States.
“Joe Biden was affable when we met, he cracked a few gags, and he was invested in what I had to say. It’s cool to look back on it, knowing you met the then Vice-President and current President,” Murphy said.
“He knew I was captain of the footy club and the jumper I gave him carried the No.9 which was his favourite number – I daresay a number he wore in his College sports days. He told me it was unfortunate I wore the No.3, but I told him that one of our up and comers (Patrick Cripps) wears that number – and I wonder if Joe now knows he has the guernsey of the current Carlton captain and Brownlow Medallist?”
“Joe asked me what the Round was all about and I told him it was about respect and responsibility, and he was all for that as he had been involved in helping in that area abroad . . . I can say is that he was incredibly impressed that Carlton as a club was doing everything possible to help prevent domestic violence.”
In the company of the former Arizona basketballer and then Northern Blues ruckman Matt Korcheck and the American-born Collingwood follower Mason Cox, Biden watched on from the stands as Carlton regrettably fell seven points adrift of West Coast 11.9 (75) to 12.10 (82), with West Coast’s Andrew Gaff earning three Brownlow votes and the Cripps cousins Patrick and Jamie landing two votes and one for Carlton and the Eagles respectively.
This Friday’s match with Brisbane at Marvel Stadium marks the club’s eighth AFL Carlton Respects Game, promoting gender equality for the prevention of violence against women.
All aspects of our football club, standing as one 🧡
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) May 5, 2023
It means so much to so many.
As we aim to raise $125,000 to support the Road to Respect program, Co-Major partners Hyundai and Great Southern Bank will each be donating $1,000 for every goal we kick tonight against Brisbane!
The club’s 2023 campaign theme is 'Action Through Education', with a focus on promoting the newly launched Road to Respect digital learning platform. Campaign objectives include awareness raising through education in eradicating violence; promoting the ‘Road to Respect’, particularly through schools; fundraising through merchandise, fundraising initiatives, and donations; and match-day promotion.
In reflecting on the Carlton Respects Game, Murphy, the 300-game dual club best and fairest, said Carlton had come a long way in terms of its overall community commitment.
“When I first started at the Club, community causes like ‘Respects’ were never on the radar. Back then it was more about grassroots footy, so we’ve come a long way,” Murphy said.
“It’s great that football in general can bring awareness, whether through the Carlton Respects Game, Pride Round or whatever the cause may be. The game offers such a terrific platform.”
