THE Carlton Football Club is excited to announce its eighth annual AFLW Carlton Respects Game for the upcoming Week 3 match against Geelong at IKON Park, the Club’s first home game for the 2024 season. 

Carlton Respects, a club initiative established in 2016, provides education for respect and equality and strives to create a future free of violence.  Violence against women remains a widespread issue in Australia, having an enormous impact on both individuals and the community.   

On average, one woman is killed every week by a current or former partner, with two in five women experiencing physical violence since the age of 15. 

The match is a continuation of awareness raising and fundraising, following the Club’s Round 15 AFL Carlton Respects Game against Geelong, which raised over $400,000 for Carlton Respects.  

Earlier this year, Carlton released a powerful video featuring Marc Pittonet and Harriet Cordner - which shed light on a few of the stark realities of gender inequality our society faces. The impactful video garnered over 350,000 views on social media.  

In response to the video, the Club hosted a roundtable discussion with Mitch McGovern, Marc Pittonet, Amelia Velardo and Harriet Cordner, highlighting the social cause and reflecting on the value and impact of Carlton Respects. 

The Club aims to be an ally in the gender equality sector and is dedicated to being a leader in the sports industry, standing firm that the only acceptable rate of violence is zero. 

A key initiative of Carlton Respects is the Road to Respect school program, a free digital-learning platform and face-to-face program for primary school students in Grades 3 to 6, which seeks to challenge pre-existing gender stereotypes, whilst encouraging respectful relationships and managing emotions.  

The program features both AFL and AFLW players, who act as role models, and further reinforces the content.  

All revenue raised from ticket sales to the Week 3 clash will go towards supporting Carlton Respects.  

Blues CEO Brian Cook said the game is a significant date in both Carlton's AFL & AFLW fixture.  

"Carlton Respects is an important initiative for the Club, and to have both our programs running out in orange, amplifying the Carlton Respects cause, is aligned with our club purpose of having a positive impact in the community," Cook said.  

"We understand the platform our industry provides and look to use this to create a safer environment for all women.  

“Both the AFL and AFLW Carlton Respects Games help strengthen the public’s knowledge surrounding this preventable issue, as does our Road for Respects school program, which is available at no cost to schools nationwide.   

“Through all of this, we are striving to stop the issue at the start, and we hope we can encourage others to step up and do the same." 

To signify the eighth annual AFLW Carlton Respects Game, the team will run out in orange socks.

To learn more about Carlton Respects or to donate, please click here.    

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800respect.org.au. If you, a child, or another person is in immediate danger, call 000.