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Essendon and Collingwood say clubs have a responsibility to show leadership in condemning violence against women, as the AFL confirms the code will make a statement on the issue at matches this weekend.
Players, coaches and umpires will pay tribute to women who have lost their lives to gender-based violence ahead of each match in round eight, beginning in Adelaide on Thursday night.
The league said they will come together in the centre of the ground to form a linked circle and "pay a silent tribute to those women who have lost their lives".
The AFL's move follows a letter written by West Coast chief executive Don Pyke addressed to the league and then sent to clubs, urging the competition to make a united and public stand at all nine matches this round.
Pyke wrote the letter after watching tens of thousands of Australians march across the country on Sunday to rally against gender-based violence in the wake of a rise in the number of women killed this year.
"The numbers … are horrendous to see," Pyke told ABC Radio Perth.
Pyke said clubs had responded to his call to arms with "pretty much" unanimous support.
Bombers coach Brad Scott said the AFL had led the way in highlighting social and community issues.
"I think we should lead on that front," Scott said.
"I'm fully supportive of what Pykey's proposing. But on the other hand, I'm disappointed we even have to talk about it.
"We've come so far and we're still talking about these things that just shouldn't be occurring and the reality is they are."
The issue is particularly personal for the Bombers. Four of their players attended Monday's funeral service for 23-year-old Victorian woman Hannah McGuire, including her cousin Nick Hind.
"Whatever role we can play in bringing awareness to this issue and fixing things we should," Scott said.
"AFL footy is really popular … and we can set the example."
Collingwood coach Craig McRae described Pyke's letter as a sign of "great leadership".
"We are here to represent a broader community and would like to think we can role model behaviour," McRae said.
"I know inside our four walls we talk about it all the time. We talk about being a great dad or being a great husband, being whatever it looks like for the community.
"We've got some things in the pipeline to throw our support and hopefully again give the community a message that is a strong one."
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the league had a zero-tolerance approach to violence against women.
"This weekend we will unite and remember all the women who have been killed as a result of gender-based violence and stand in solidarity in committing to do more to stop this community-wide problem," he said in a statement.
"We also understand our industry still has work to do, but we are committed to continuing to educate, to take action and even more conscious of that we must work harder than ever. All men are responsible for doing better."
Scott was asked about Essendon's position on Tarryn Thomas, the former North Melbourne player sacked by his club in February over repeated instances of inappropriate behaviour towards women.
Thomas, 23, was banned for 18 matches but could eventually return to the AFL if he completes a behavioural change program.
"The reality is that there are people from privileged backgrounds who have had every opportunity in life and there are others who haven't," Scott said.
"People will make mistakes and as a leader, a coach and a parent the responsibility is to have people learn from their mistakes.
"In Tarryn's case, my view is one of support. He's made some mistakes but I've known Tarryn since he was 14 and my view is he's a good person.
"As an industry do we just wash our hands and say we're done with him or do we help him? I prefer to sit in the help camp."
Scott acknowledged how some in the community would label that position a contradiction with the club's condemnation of violence against women.
"AFL provides incredible structure for young people and if it were my kids would I want them involved in the structure and support networks of an AFL club or would I want them to go out into society and hope for the best?" he said.
Pyke said it was up to the AFL to decide if Thomas deserved another chance if he completed his rehabilitation program.
"Players are humans and they make mistakes, and it's a matter of whether they can actually rehabilitate themselves in the space where they've made that mistake," Pyke said.
"And then do they deserve another opportunity? Others will decide that."
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