AFL General Manager of Inclusion and Social Policy Tanya Hosch has announced that the League would conduct a review of Rule 35 in the AFL Player Rules, which outlines the code's Racial and Religious Vilification Policy.      

Speaking at The Long Walk's Long Lunch in Melbourne today, Ms Hosch said that the AFL's original rule was ahead of its time, and provided leadership on the issues of racial vilification on the sporting field.      

"The AFL's original Racial and Religious Vilification Policy was an Australian first, and perhaps a first in world sport. It sent a very strong message that our game wanted to stand up against racism, and that our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players had protection and rights on the ground," Ms. Hosch said.    

This week is the 2018 Toyota AFL Sir Doug Nicholls Round, an annual week-long celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players contribution to the game and also their cultures.    

"The impact of Rule 30, which became Rule 35 in 2013, has been significant, and we are very proud of the work that the code has done in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players and the community in taking a stand against racism.    

"The AFL Indigenous Advisory Council has recommended a review of the rule, based on the issues we still face and will simply ensure that it stays up to date with changing expectations. We want all our industry to have their say on its operation and its outcomes," Ms. Hosch said.      

Ms Hosch announced the changes at The Long Lunch, hosted by the Essendon Football Club and The Long Walk, in recognition of the role Michael Long played in the creation and implementation of the AFL's Racial and Religious Vilification policy.    

The policy, originally Rule 30 in the AFL Player Rules, was introduced in 1995 toprimarily deal with issues of vilification and abuse relating to race, ethnicity and religion on the football field.      

In 2013, this was amended to Rule 35 and broadened significantly to enable the rule to be applied to other forms of discrimination including disability, appearance and sexuality.    

The review will encompass opportunities for increased awareness and understanding of the importance of the rule, implementation improvements across all industry stakeholders including further integration with the NAB AFL Women's Competition and levels of the game below the elite competitions.