Police have given staff at AFL House the all-clear to return to work after a threat was received on Thursday afternoon, sparking an evacuation of the organisation's headquarters.
More than 150 AFL employees in Melbourne's Docklands were forced to evacuate about midday after the league received a threatening phone call.
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AFL 'YES' sign up for a day
The league replaced the AFL sign at its Melbourne headquarters with a temporary "YES" sign, but the sign has since been taken down following a building evacuation.
On Wednesday, the AFL changed its logo on the building to "Yes" in support of same-sex marriage but removed it by Thursday morning, claiming it was only a temporary measure.
Police declared the area safe after conducting safety checks, with staff returning to work shortly before 1.30pm.
![The AFL logo at AFL house is changed to support the marriage equality campaign on Wednesday.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170924113352im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/y/l/5/s/0/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gylu9a.png/1505970581267.jpg)
Tram routes 70 and 75 through Docklands were diverted, with a police cordon in place on Harbour Esplanade.
AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said the league received a threatening phone call on Thursday morning that has since been deemed a hoax.
Mr Keane said the caller gave no reason for the threat.
The evacuation comes amid a debate over whether the organisation should have a public position on the same-sex marriage debate.
![Hundreds of AFL staff have been evacuated after a phone threat on Thursday.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170924113352im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/y/l/v/e/3/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gylu9a.png/1505970581267.jpg)
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170924113352im_/http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/staticmap?center=-37.81753,144.94838&zoom=15&size=500x370&maptype=roadmap&markers=icon:http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/ms2/micons/purple-pushpin.png|-37.81692,144.94611&sensor=false)
AFL chief Gillon McLachlan on Tuesday said the company needed to make "a strong statement" but did not want to lecture people.
![Hundreds of AFL staff have been evacuated after a phone threat on Thursday.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170924113352im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/y/l/v/e/2/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gylu9a.png/1505970581267.jpg)
"People should get out and vote and have their view but this is something that actually talks to a core value of ours, which is actual equality, that people, based on race, gender, sexuality, shouldn't be discriminated against," he said.
But former Carlton president John Elliott slammed the organisation's decision to become involved in social and political issues.
UPDATE: AFL House evacuated as a precaution after a hoax threat was phoned in this morning. Police are conducting safety checks. #7News pic.twitter.com/dU3xbTaXlx
— 7 News Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) September 21, 2017
In an interview with News Corp Australia on Thursday, Mr Elliott alleged the AFL had removed the "Yes" sign on the Docklands' headquarters under pressure.
"I think the pressure from other clubs have forced them to do it," he said, while lauding his former club Carlton, which on Wednesday released a statement declaring it would would not take a position in the debate.
"As a club, we respect that this is about personal choice, and as such don't intend to campaign on the issue," the statement read.
Carlton fans reacting to the news described the statement as "weak", "hollow" and "disappointing" on social media.
AFL House had hoax threat phoned to building this morning.
— Patrick Keane (@AFL_PKeane) September 21, 2017
All staff were removed while police checks proceed.
Expected to return shortly.
AFL House (including AFL Media) has been evacuated. We’re unable to publish stories right now, but we’ll have reporting as soon as we can.
— Matt Thompson (@MattThompson) September 21, 2017