The AFL has moved on vaccination.Credit:Joe Armao
If a member of a club’s football staff chooses not to be vaccinated individual clubs will determine what action to take relating to that person’s employment and remuneration.
The policy contains a process for the AFL to consider and (where appropriate) grant approval of medical exemptions using criteria similar to Victoria’s authorised worker vaccination mandate.
The rules will apply to new players coming into the AFL and AFLW,including by the upcoming national draft meaning that any player who is drafted to a Victorian club on November 24-25 will need to be fully vaccinated to start training with the club.
Dillon said the league would continue to encourage people to be vaccinated.
“The health and safety of our players,staff and the wider community has been one of the guiding principles governing the AFL’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dillon said.
The AFL are using rapid antigen testing and weekly PCR testing to guard against players or staff circulating in the program with COVID-19. A member of Richmond’s AFLW programtested positive to COVID this week with the virus detected in rapid antigen testing before training occurred on Saturday.
“Vaccination is the most important thing,and we are strongly encouraging all of our players and staff and wider community to get vaccinated,” Dillon said.
The players’ association CEO Paul Marsh said it was important to build in the capacity for the policy to change if government policies changed.
“In our conversations with players about COVID-19 vaccinations over recent months,we have made it clear that the AFLPA believes in the importance of vaccinations as part of a safe workplace and community and as a pathway out of our current lockdown cycle,” Marsh said.
“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. Through our player meetings,players have been made aware that this was a possible scenario.”
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