Why furious footy fans are slamming the AFL's plan to have every team take a stand on violence against women as 'hypocritical grandstanding'

Angry footy fans have blasted the AFL's plan to take a stand on violence against women, insisting getting every team to make the gesture this weekend is merely 'hypocritical grandstanding' and 'virtue signalling'.

The AFL has confirmed that before all round eight games, stars from all clubs will stand arm in arm to shine a spotlight on gender-based violence.

Players, coaches and umpires will come together in the centre of the ground to form a circle and pay a silent tribute to those women who have lost their lives, before an MC reads a statement to the crowd.

However, many footy fans have slammed the move, insisting that the AFL is being 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.

Other commenters wrote, 'Oh well that should stop it dead in its tracks', 'Get your own house in order. You are not who the public goes to for advice' and 'All just lip service when they allow men who've been charged with assaulting women [to] play AFL.'

Another X user took a different tack, writing: 'The AFL's revenue is awash with betting advertising while problem gambling has a direct, brutal at times fatal link to intimate partner violence. Don't listen to what they say watch what they do. This weekend should be called Hypocrisy Round.' 

Radio host Tom Elliott has also called out the AFL for having 'double standards' on social issues. 

'You can't have it both ways,' he said on 3AW.

'You can't have this big statement about domestic violence and then welcome back a player who's been found guilty of conduct relating to domestic violence.'

Domestic violence campaigner Phil Cleary also slammed the league, accusing it of ignoring an event aimed at bringing awareness to the issue of domestic violence. 

Cleary's sister Vicki was killed by her ex-partner in 1987, and an annual VFL match is now played in her honour.

Cleary says the AFL hasn't bothered to attend or endorse the event.

'We have Vicki Cleary day in 2017 and we've had five of them,' he told Elliott.

'The AFL has never attended and never spoken to me about formally endorsing that day.'

AFL great Jimmy Bartel has also given the AFL a strong warning about the message that would be sent if Tarryn Thomas makes it back onto the footy field next season.

'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.

Bartell, who experienced and witnessed horrific domestic violence as a child, feels as though the sport should have a more zero-tolerance attitude.

'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.'