For community football club committees and officials, all ages, under the AFL National Community Football Policy Handbook (February 2026). Covers the vilification and discrimination (Peek) rule, who must report, how to complain, deadlines, conciliation, outcomes and the Notice of Breach process.
Section 10.1 of the National Community Football Policy Handbook says no person shall act towards or speak to any other person in a manner, or engage in any other conduct, which threatens, disparages, vilifies or insults another person or group of persons on any basis, including but not limited to a person's race, religion, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Handbook calls this the Peek Rule. The AFL may appoint an AFL Vilification and Discrimination Panel to give expert assistance to the AFL and other controlling bodies with conciliation and with any Tribunal process about a potential breach.
Source: AFL National Community Football Policy Handbook (February 2026), Section 10. https://play.afl/sites/default/files/2026-02/National%20Community%20Football%20Policy%20Handbook%20-%202026%20%5BFINAL%20-%20130226%5D_1.pdf
Yes. A club, football official or player has an obligation to report, under Section 23.1, conduct that is reasonably likely to be vilification or discrimination under Section 10. Failing to report it without reasonable cause is itself a breach of the Handbook.
They are not taken to have breached the reporting obligation if reporting would have been a breach of any applicable law.
Source: Handbook (February 2026), Section 23.1(f).
A person who considers someone has breached the Handbook may submit a written complaint either:
The Handbook notes that an anonymous complaint, or one without supporting details, may limit the controlling body's ability to investigate or act. A complaint cannot be withdrawn by the person who submitted it unless the controlling body approves, and nobody may knowingly submit a complaint that is untrue, vexatious or malicious.
Where an offence reported after a match involves vilification or discrimination, it is dealt with under Section 10 and the report is treated as a Notice of Complaint.
Source: Handbook (February 2026), Sections 22.2(c), 23.1 and 23.2(g).
The Handbook notes that clubs are held to a higher standard than an ordinary person, who may choose to complain but within the 30 days.
Source: Handbook (February 2026), Section 23.1(b).
No. A controlling body may charge an administration fee for some written complaints, but it must not charge a fee for lodging or administering a complaint about an alleged breach of the vilification and discrimination rule (Section 10) or the safeguarding children rule (Section 11).
Source: Handbook (February 2026), Section 23.1(c).
Source: Handbook (February 2026), Sections 10.3 and 23.2.
Entitled to attend:
All participants are permitted and encouraged to bring a support person, who does not act as an advocate or actively take part. Participants are discouraged from having a legal practitioner as a support person or in any other capacity. Conciliation only goes ahead where the AFL decides it is appropriate in all the circumstances.
Source: Handbook (February 2026), Section 10.3.
Participants may agree any outcome or sanction, including (alone or combined):
The person or people vilified, the person who breached the rule and the AFL or controlling body must all agree to the outcome. Participants cannot agree to an outcome that binds or sanctions someone who is not a participant.
When deciding, participants should consider the nature and setting of the breach (for example during a match, a club activity, a public place or a private setting), how much offence or hurt it caused, any previous breaches by the person, and whether the person has had relevant training and education.
Source: Handbook (February 2026), Section 10.4.
Yes. The particulars of a complaint and the conciliation must at all times remain confidential, and nobody may publicly comment on or pass on information about a complaint or conciliation before, during or after the conciliation.
The exception is where a complaint is resolved by conciliation: any public statement about it, including an apology, must be agreed by the parties.
Source: Handbook (February 2026), Section 10.5.
If the matter did not go to conciliation, or the AFL or controlling body considers it was not resolved by conciliation, the AFL or controlling body must proceed to issue a Notice of Breach. The only exception is where the AFL, or the controlling body with the AFL's approval, decides that exceptional and compelling circumstances mean it should not proceed. In that case the matter is closed or dealt with in another way determined by the AFL.
Source: Handbook (February 2026), Section 10.6.
A Notice of Breach is the formal document a controlling body issues to the charged person and their club. It must set out the conduct, the sections of the Handbook breached and the prescribed sanction (for example a fine, reprimand or suspension), unless the matter is referred straight to the Tribunal.
A person given a Notice of Breach may, within 48 hours of receiving it (or another time the controlling body sets), either:
If they do not respond, the controlling body may refer the matter to the Tribunal or apply the Early Guilty Plea penalty. An Early Guilty Plea is not available if the Notice was referred directly to the Tribunal without a sanction.
Source: Handbook (February 2026), Sections 23.4 and 23.5.
Source: National Community Football Policy Handbook (February 2026), Sections 10.3(e) and 23.2(i).