‘Handful’ of authorised AFL staff not vaccinated as deadline arrives

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The AFL believes there is only “a handful” of authorised staff at Victorian clubs not yet vaccinated ahead of the state government’s deadline for authorised workers to have their first COVID-19 vaccine dose on Friday.

The AFL believes there is only a handful of staff at clubs that remain unvaccinated.Credit:Joe Armao

The league asked for a straw poll from club bosses at a meeting earlier this week, which revealed there were still some people involved in AFL and AFLW football programs, either players or staff, across the competition that were hesitant to receive the vaccine.

The AFL has followed state government orders during the coronavirus pandemic and emphasised to club CEOs that all staff and players will be required to follow the Victorian government’s mandate policy.

It has told clubs that under the government’s policy all authorised workers previously allowed to work under exemptions “require their first COVID-19 vaccine dose by Friday 15 October to continue to work onsite at their workplaces and will need to be fully vaccinated by Friday 26 November”.

With first- to fourth-year AFL players not required to return to training until November 22 the immediate impact will be felt by any “vaccine-hesitant” people involved in the AFLW programs. Players who are drafted to the AFL on November 25-26 will need to be vaccinated to immediately start with their new clubs. The actual AFLW competition will not get under way until January 6, 2022.

An industry source said some of the people who were not yet vaccinated thought they would be able to receive an exemption, but they fell outside the criteria.

The league is continuing to work with people who are yet to have the vaccine as part of an education policy that has been ongoing throughout 2021, which involved the AFLPA and medical staff across the competition.

The issue is not confined to the AFL; all industries are dealing with people who will not be able to work unless they are vaccinated. The league, which is yet to release its vaccination policy, was already encouraging all people within the industry to get vaccinated.

In America the Brooklyn Nets stood down NBA star Kyrie Irving after he refused to comply with the league’s policy while the NHL said overnight just four or their players remained unvaccinated.

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