Melbourne and West Coast Say ‘NO MORE’ to Family and Domestic Violence

This Saturday TIO stadium will again see players link arms as part of the NO MORE campaign. The Melbourne Demons and West Coast Eagles have agreed to continue the long standing tradition of interstate teams linking arms as part of the Territory’s own NO MORE campaign. The Territory Thunder and Brisbane Lions Reserves will also be linking arms in the curtain raiser.

On a day rocked by an AFL tragedy, the importance of reducing family and domestic violence has never been so starkly glaring. It is expected that over 50 men and women will be killed this year purely from family and domestic violence related incidents. In a disturbing trend, numbers have been steadily climbing above the average this year.

Melbourne and West Coast’s strong stand could not come at a more needful time. The sobering past two days have shown the widespread impact of this social epidemic, and how all Australians can be affected. The continued strong statements of linked arms are part of an increasing awareness Australia wide that will hopefully see the beginning of the end for this terrible issue.

NO MORE campaigner Charlie King thanked the clubs for their involvement, “It’s in times like this that we’re really reminded of how heartbreaking this issue is. This year alone around forty men and women have been killed. That’s forty families still grieving. It’s so important that those clubs with a social presence involve themselves with the issue – what we really need is positive role modelling. I’d like to say congratulations to both Melbourne and West Coast for stepping up and helping solve this issue.”

The curtain raiser will kick off at 3.30 pm Saturday 4 July, with the main game to start at 7.10 pm.