Clubs considering mandatory vaccination

AFL teams are considering making double vaccination a condition of entry to their clubs for players returning to pre-season in November.

The league is to announce its vaccinations policy this week and is encouraging its clubs to take a leadership role.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has urged clubs to “lean in” and push vaccination with their players as the league’s education policy is rolled out after being determined not to jump the queue this season.

Clubs are attempting to vaccinate all their players now the season has ended, with those out of finals well under way.

Clubs have said they believe there will be players who refuse vaccination and are unsure of the AFL’s response.

The Illawarra Hawks in the NBL released Travis Trice and the New Zealand Breakers tore up a two-year deal with star Tai Webster over those players’ anti-vaccination stances.

The AFL’s 18 teams will use the framework of providing a safe working environment to require double vaccination.

Players will be told the club cannot afford to have nonvaccinated players spreading

Covid through their clubs or spreading it in the community.

Clubs also believe unvaccinated players will be unable to fly interstate, but a Virgin spokesman told the Herald Sun last week they had not foreshadowed vaccination as a condition of flying next year.

North Melbourne has been a trailblazer for the vaccination message and said it would be fully vaccinated by October 19.