Criminal Law

Warning: This content discusses domestic violence. If you need support, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732. In an emergency, call 000.

The AFL and NRL seasons have concluded, with attention pouring in over the final rounds to see who would take home the 2026 premierships. In 2025, 4.55 million viewers tuned in to the NRL Grand Final, and the AFL Grand Final drew a total TV audience of 4.08 million.

While the games are a cause for celebration for many, they are also a stark reminder of a greater issue affecting Australia nationally.

Why domestic violence rises around grand finals

Each year, reports show that domestic and family violence (DFV) rises sharply around major games.

On AFL Grand Final Day last year, Victoria Police reported a 5 per cent increase in family violence incidents. Berry Street, a Victorian children, young people, and families service, has seen an increase of more than 50 per cent in calls in the week following the grand final.

These figures are not unique to the NRL or the AFL. They are, however, clear indicators that greater change is needed to reduce domestic and family violence.

Sport, alcohol, and gambling do not cause abuse, but they can escalate the risk, amplifying harmful attitudes that already exist and allowing violence to continue and be dismissed.

Controversy on and off the field

This year saw a particularly strong focus on violence in sport following allegations involving members of the Sydney Swans team. Five players were stood down for the rest of the season following a report of an alleged sexual assault in a Melbourne hotel room. Four are being investigated, and one is being treated as a potential witness. No charges have been laid, and all those involved are presumed innocent.

On the field, controversy emerged when Brisbane Lions player Lachie Neale was cleared to play in the grand final after being sanctioned for “gut-punching” an opponent. The tribunal reached its decision after Neale successfully argued that his good record should mitigate the sanction, despite reporting suggesting nine players had been suspended for similar actions during the season. The incident concerned on-field conduct only, and there is no suggestion of any off-field violence.

Some commentary on the tribunal’s decision argues that accepting “good character” in response to violent acts could indulge a culture that dismisses accountability for violence. In NSW, the law is moving in the opposite direction. Legislation removing good character as a mitigating factor at sentencing received assent in June 2026, addressing concerns we have previously raised about good character in sexual assault trials.

In the stands, spectator behaviour was criticised in both codes. The NRL launched an investigation after spectators at Eden Park in Auckland threw objects at the referee. A similar incident occurred in an AFL preliminary final at the MCG, where fans threw bottles at the field umpires.

The behaviour of players, spectators, and sporting organisations points to a broader culture in which violence can take hold.

Yet this culture is not confined to sports fans, players, or finals rounds.

Over one weekend in September, there were four domestic violence deaths across NSW. Only months earlier, in July, there were four separate domestic violence deaths in four days nationally.

Recent NSW reforms

NSW has introduced a series of reforms in response to the ongoing crisis.

In March 2026, the NSW Government introduced reforms closing legal loopholes for offenders. Perpetrators no longer living at a premises can now be prosecuted for breaking and entering regardless of their legal interest in the premises, and an accused is no longer an occupant if an order, bail condition, or parole requires them to live somewhere else.

These changes followed tougher bail laws for alleged perpetrators, electronic monitoring of those on bail, stronger penalties for ADVO breaches, and orders allowing the strictest supervision and monitoring of perpetrators.

Most recently, landmark rental reforms came into effect on 21 September 2026. They are another step towards protecting survivors, and include:

• protections meaning survivors no longer need to notify a person they share a lease with if they are leaving the rental property;
• broader rights to change locks without landlord consent;
• protections against liability for property damage caused by violence;
• a requirement for renters to be asked for permission before videos or photos of the property that may show their belongings are published; and
• a broader list of approved people who can declare that a renter is experiencing violence.

Coercive control laws under review

Two years after their commencement, NSW’s coercive control laws are being tested in court and reviewed by the government. Aspects being called into question include the mental element requiring proof of intention, police confidence in gathering evidence and responding to reports, and the complexity of proving that behaviour formed a pattern. Coercive control can take many forms, including financial abuse.

The first offender to be jailed under the laws was sentenced in February 2026.

Beyond the final siren

As the seasons close, the rise in domestic and family violence around grand finals is a stark reminder of a critical social crisis. Legislative change is a positive step, but it cannot be the sole solution. Change requires cultural shifts, stronger support services, community awareness, and institutions willing to challenge behaviours that dismiss abuse. Both on and off the field, a strong response to violence will help ensure sport can be a celebration for everyone.

If you are experiencing domestic or family violence and need legal advice about protection orders, criminal proceedings, or separation, our family law and criminal law teams can help. Contact us confidentially below.