No jab, no play is AFL policy

AFL clubs will have the right to sack players who refuse to be vaccinated after the league moved to a mandatory vaccination policy on Thursday.

It means players must be vaccinated to play next year, with every AFL player and football staffer to be fully vaccinated by February 18.

Players in different states have a range of dates to be vaccinated by, with the AFLPA agreeing to the new policy despite admitting it would prefer vaccinations to be an individual decision.

Clubs will have a number of options if players refuse to be vaccinated, including putting them on an inactive list and paying them a partial salary.

They can also terminate a player’s contract with the player’s permission, or keep them on their lists but not play them in 2022.

If by May 18 next year players are not vaccinated, the policy states the clubs can: “Exercise any rights the Club may have at law to terminate the Player’s playing contract”.

The AFL said it accepted it needed to share responsibility to address the risk of exposure to Covid, with TGA- approved vaccines offering the best possible protection.

Melbourne premiership player Tom McDonald said this week he was uneasy with vaccine mandates but had been vaccinated.

The policy has a process for medical exemptions.

The AFL’s general manager of football Andrew Dillon said on Thursday the overwhelming majority of AFL players had already been given at least one vaccine shot. “The football industry has gone above and beyond in the last 18 months to safeguard our people and industry and the community and ensure the competitions have been able to go on,” he said.

“The vaccination policy is a continuation of our commitment, ensuring the livelihoods of the thousands of people that work in football, and making sure we can continue to play for the millions of fans across the country.”

AFLPA chief executive Paul Marsh said the players accepted the vaccine mandate.

“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.

“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.

“Therefore, in working through this policy with the AFL, our focus was to agree positions that provide players with clarity, appropriate timelines for making personal vaccination decisions, an ability to review the policy should government directions change, and financially support those who make the hard decisions to step away from (careers).”