Interactive, face-to-face sessions will be run targeting men aged between 16 and 25 on the issues of alcohol and binge drinking, illicit drugs in sport and respectful relationships with women.

The league's football operations manager David Newton says the program focuses on promoting social responsibilities not only in the football club but the broader community.

"Football is a great mechanism to promote a whole range of socially responsible programs to the broader community and we hope this is just the first of many AFL-backed initiatives that we can implement in the western suburbs," he said.

"The program aims to contribute to broader cultural change strategies within local football club, while reducing risk management and working to create healthy, safe and inclusive sporting communities."

The program will be open to all senior, reserve and under-18 players.

In another initiative, the WRFL has launched its new AFL 9s competition.

The nine-a-side game is a spin-off of Rec Footy, a non-contact game played in the summer months in recent years.

The WRFL will hold a six-week mixed competition starting on February 22 on the synthetic sports oval at Saltwater Reserve in Point Cook.

Some of the rules unique to AFL 9s include:

■Non-contact game with tags worn to substitute a tackle.

■ Turnover awarded when the ball hits the ground or a tag is taken.

■Ball must travel through all thirds of the ground before a score is registered.

■Only forwards can score and must do so from the forward zone.

■ Teams must have three female players on the field at any one time in mixed format.

■ A mark is awarded regardless of distance the ball travels.