The last weekend in September and AFL go hand-in-hand, especially in Victoria, but as footy fans prepare for the biggest weekend in the sport, police are preparing for a rise in family and domestic violence incidents.
Each year, Victoria Police sees an increase in violent and abusive behaviour during holiday and long-weekend periods, including the AFL Grand Final weekend.
“When families get together to enjoy holidays perpetrators may use these periods of extended contact to increase their abusive behaviours,” Family Violence Command Acting Assistant Commissioner Sharon McKinnon said.
“There is never an excuse for family violence and police will ensure that each crime is investigated and that all offenders are held to account.”
In the three-day weekend last year, a total of 796 family violence incidents were recorded, a nine per cent increase from the 729 incidents in 2023.
Our Watch, Australia’s leading primary prevention organisation, highlights that it’s not the game itself that drives violence but the combination of alcohol and high emotions, particularly in spaces where women are not treated as equal.
“Violence against women is unfortunately too common, but it’s not inevitable and it certainly isn’t normal,” Our Watch chief executive officer Patty Kinnersly said.
“Everyone can think about what they can personally do to ensure violence against women is not tolerated.
“Whether it’s calling out disrespect when they see it, cheering on their team without resorting to aggression, or looking out for their mates, we can all make Grand Final day a safer celebration.”
According to Our Watch, research shows that alcohol can weaken men’s empathy, care, concern and respect for those around them, particularly women.
The spike in violence is not limited to the code of AFL but a number of major sporting events.
Our Watch stated that Victoria Police prepare for a 20 per cent rise in violence against women on AFL Grand Final day, while on State of Origin nights, domestic assaults in New South Wales increase by up to 40 per cent.
But Ms Kinnersly said prevention and attitudes must change at a ground level, across all sporting codes.
“Our Watch supports efforts across the community to reduce harm caused by alcohol. We know that contributing factors, when combined with disrespect and harmful gender stereotypes, can make men’s violence towards women more frequent and severe,” she said.
“To prevent violence from happening in the first place, we need to improve club cultures across all sporting codes.
“That begins with promoting respect for women, adopting codes of conduct that have zero tolerance for violence and disrespect, and ensuring the responsible service of alcohol. We want everyone to be safe from violence on Grand Final day.”
In 2024, Victoria recorded its highest ever number of family violence incidents in a 12 month period, with over 100,000 incidents, something that was noted by Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Regional Operations Neil Paterson as an “unwanted milestone”.
Across the Yarra Ranges, the number of incidents reached 2019, according to the Crime Statistics Agency’s Family Violence Database.
Verbal abuse equated to 41.1 per cent of the recorded abuses, followed by emotional abuse (28.2 per cent) and physical abuse (15.1 per cent).
Acting AC McKinnon said police will always ensure all forms of violence and abuse are taken seriously.
“Our key message is that police will take all reports of family violence crime seriously and will always respond to keep victims safe and hold perpetrators to account,” she said.
“Police will always continue to work through peak holiday periods to provide safety to the community.”
If you or someone close to you is in immediate danger, dial 000.
1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family, and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, chat online via 1800RESPECT.org.au, or text 0458 737 732. Men’s Referral Service: 1300 766 491.
