AFL players told no-jab, no-play with new edict

AFL clubs will have the right to sack players who refuse to be vaccinated after the league stepped up to a new hard-line mandatory vaccination policy on Thursday.

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

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 onto an inactive list and paying them a portion of their salaries.

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”.

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

The policy establishes a process for medical exemptions for players who are unable to be vaccinated.

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. 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.”