Dangerfield bands together in road safety push

GEELONG skipper Patrick Dangerfield is just one of the thousands of Victorian footballers and netballers from grassroots to AFL level donning blue armbands this week to show their commitment to road safety and honour people who have lost their lives on the state’s roads.

Dangerfield and Collingwood captain Darcy Moore are ambassadors for the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and its annual Road Safety Round to help prevent road trauma.

Earlier this week, Road Safety Round was launched at the MCG against a sombre backdrop of 284 highlighted seats, representing the number of lives lost last year – a feature that will return during Round 20 of the AFL.

The launch comes as 175 people have lost their lives on Victorian roads in 2025, 18 higher than the same time last year.

The majority of fatalities have occurred in regional areas – where players, coaches, and volunteers have a reliance on their vehicles and regularly travel long distances for games and training.

“Speeding continues to be a major contributor to road trauma. Partnering with grassroots clubs allows us to reach Victorians where they live, play, and connect, embedding road safety into everyday life and driving real behavioural change,” TAC chief executive officer Tracey Slatter said.

The TAC is partnering with AFL Victoria for a seventh season to deliver Road Safety Round.

This year, the spotlight is on speeding, which is a leading cause of more than 30 per cent of fatal crashes and 25 per cent of serious injury crashes in Victoria.

Geelong and the AFL’s nine other Victorian-based teams will support more than 1,000 regional and suburban AFL Victoria-affiliated clubs who will wear blue armbands in games to demonstrate a commitment to “Band Together” for safer roads.

Players and supporters are encouraged to “Be the Difference” through peer-to-peer conversations about road safety and foster a culture of responsibility in their communities.

“Local football and netball clubs are more than just sporting hubs – they’re trusted voices in their communities. By leading conversations about safe driving and the dangers of speeding, they’re helping to protect the very people who rely on them week in, week out,” Ms Slatter said.

Off the field, Moore and Dangerfield will star in videos played across social media and on the big screens at Marvel Stadium and the MCG during the round.

Grassroots clubs will also plan their own Road Safety Round activities.

For more information, head to tac.vic.gov.au/bandtogether