AusLeisure

The AFL has released its long-awaited vaccination policy, which mandates that all AFL and AFLW players will be barred from playing and training if they are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by mid-February.

Released by the AFL in conjunction with the AFL Players Association (AFLPA), the long-awaited vaccination policy covering AFL and AFLW players and staff states that Victorian-based players and staff will need to have had both vaccination doses by November 26, a date set for all authorised workers by the Victorian Government.

Following that, NSW players and staff will need to be fully immunised by 17th December while the deadline for Queensland, South Australian and Western Australian players and staff is 18th February.

With clubs to ultimately determine action on staff who do not receive the jab, for players who do not have a medical exemption, there will be options to transfer them on to an inactive list, with their receiving no less than 25% of their contracted salary, or agree to part ways.

Players and staff who fail to comply with the vaccination policy will not be able to attend club or AFL premises to train or play.

Releasing the policy, the AFL advised “the policy reflects the AFL's strongly held view that as the governing body of the sport, we share a responsibility to address the risk of exposure to COVID-19 of our players and football program staff, and in delivering upon this responsibility, TGA-approved vaccines offer the best possible protection in keeping our people safe, healthy and together.”

The statement went on to say that the vaccine policy provided the sport with the opportunity to recover from the COVID-19 interruptions that have beset both the AFL and AFLW competitions in these past two years, adding “the policy strongly encourages all persons in the AFL industry to be vaccinated as soon as they are practicably able to be. The AFL acknowledges and thanks the industry for the levels of vaccination that have already been achieved."

Advising that the health and safety of players, staff and the wider community was a guiding principle governing the AFL's ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AFL Executive General Manager Football and General Counsel, Andrew Dillon explained “the AFL has undertaken extensive education programs across the clubs and industry in regard to Covid-19 vaccinations and we will continue to be led by the government and medical professionals.

“The uptake of AFL industry people being vaccinated has so far been extremely encouraging and we are very pleased the overwhelming majority of our players, coaches, staff members across the AFL and the 18 clubs have at the very least received their first vaccination shot.”

AFLPA Chief Executive Paul Marsh said the organisation had made clear its belief in the importance of COVID-19 vaccinations, adding "in saying this, our view is that vaccinations are an individual decision … It has, however, became apparent in recent weeks that unvaccinated players will not be able to fulfil their contractual obligations due to various state border restrictions, and the new worker requirements in Victoria.”

The Victorian Government’s requirement about a range of workers, which includes sport players, came into effect last Friday.

However, the AFL’s announcement forces players in other states to be vaccinated.

At this time the NRL has not indicated its stance on player vaccinations.

Related Articles

21st October 2021 - Twin towers to be built on land once intended as green space next to Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium

16th October 2021 - AFL players unite to call for greater climate action       

15th October 2021 - Victorian Government expands ‘vaccination pop-ups’ at local shops, gyms, cafes and venues

12th October 2021 - Data analytics company STR share impact on hospitality sector of AFL and NRL Grand Finals

6th October 2021 - Retired AFL star Eddie Betts to deliver Coles Healthy Kicks program to Indigenous communities

4th October 2021 - Ticketmaster and Marvel Stadium extend multi-decade partnership

1st October 2021 - Victorian Premier announces COVID vaccines will be mandatory for all essential workers in the state

1st October 2021 - Ticketmaster technology helps deliver successful AFL finals series

29th September 2021 - Figures show success of AFL’s Perth Grand Final

25th September 2021 - Western Australian local governments ensure successful event activations on AFL Grand Final Day

23rd September 2021 - AFL support grows with Sydney Swans the most popular team

16th September 2021 - As vaccination rates increase ActiveXchange advises of COVID trends to empower decision making

15th September 2021 - How will vaccine passports work in each state and overseas?

10th September 2021 - Australian Vaccine Passports potentially ready within weeks

9th September 2021 - Gyms, stadiums and recreation facilities to reopen to fully vaccinated adults as part of NSW’s new roadmap to ‘freedom’

6th September 2021 - Leading entertainment promoters launch ‘Vax the Nation’ campaign

5th September 2021 - Calls for AFL fans to be banned from matches if they don’t have a COVID-19 vaccine

1st September 2021 - AFL’s Perth Grand Final will not feature fans and media from NSW and Victoria

30th August 2021 - Major venues pivot to become mass vaccination centres

26th August 2021 - Ongoing lockdowns sees start of AFLW season pushed back until January

25th August 2021 - Decision on Tasmanian AFL expansion team to be made in 2022

13th September 2021 - MCG encourages sport and entertainment fans to get vaccinated

11th January 2021 - Study finds impacts of AFL players concussion last longer than previously thought

7th April 2020 - AFL players join with VicHealth to promote wellness during Coronavirus shutdown

20th June 2017 - AFL players agree six-year pay deal

13th January 2016 - AFL Players’ Association head says Essendon players victims, not perpetrators

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.