Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide make powerful anti-domestic violence statement in emotional tribute ahead of The Showdown

Footy stars came together to say ‘enough is enough’ in the AFL’s powerful stance against domestic violence on Thursday.

Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide put on a united front before the first bounce, with the crowd at the Adelaide Oval observing a moment of silence to remember the women who have passed due to violence inflicted by men.

The AFL’s gesture has divided the footy world, with some fans and greats of the game claiming that the move is empty. 

Some have even labelled the AFL hypocritical as it looks to welcome back a player like Tarryn Thomas who have been found guilty of conduct relating to domestic violence.

‘Nothing more than hypocritical grandstanding,’ wrote one fan on X. 

‘Remember it’s not just Tarryn Thomas who’s committed violence against women. You’ve got media (Wayne Carey), other current & former players (read Night Games, Milne). There’s so much within & around the AFL & footy culture. The AFL needs drastic action not just lights & hugs,’ posted another.

‘It’s all grand standing … don’t buy it for second ! Tarryn Thomas will be back which is disgusting enough!’ wrote another.

‘And yet next year Tarryn Thomas will be back on a list, and the AFL media will trumpet it out on every platform and this will all be just another act of virtue signalling,’ replied a third.

Essendon coach Brad Scott believes the troubled star deserves a second chance, but Geelong legend Jimmy Bartel – who experienced and witnessed awful domestic violence while growing up – isn’t so sure.

‘I feel very uncomfortable with it. I get the whole premise of forgiveness and chances, he’s had a number of chances with his alleged behaviour,’ Bartel said on Nine’s Footy Classified show.

‘But at some stage there’s got to be a fork in the road, because the forgiveness angle hasn’t worked. The numbers are actually getting worse.

‘I was part of a campaign that was seven years ago, trying to very visually put the AFL as a leader, saying no to domestic violence, starting conversations, parents with children. And we’re getting worse.

‘So I get your premise of, the AFL, we can lead the charge, we can rehabilitate, we can be a leader in this space. 

‘But this whole, forgiveness, try again try again, is not working. So at some stage, what happened in the past … we’ve actually got to go a bit more of a different direction. I lean a bit towards more zero tolerance than others because that’s personal to me.

‘I’m open to all discussions but I feel incredibly uncomfortable that we’re gonna have players arm-in-arm, another woman dies … I just find it very hard.’

More to follow.