Adelaide Crows Director resigns over Club's vaccination policy

Experienced sports administrator and former Head of Commercial Operations of the Adelaide Crows, Nick Takos has resigned from the AFL club’s board of directors over the AFL and the club’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

Takos announced that he was stepping down today via a personal statement to the media, which was later sent to the Crows.

Under the Club’s vaccination policy, and in line with an AFL mandate for players and staff to be double vaccinated, all Crows employees, board members and volunteers needed to have their first dose by 19th November and second by 17th December.

While Takos said he had no in-principle objection to vaccination in his statement, he advised that he was strongly of the opinion that employers shouldn’t force their staff to have any kind of medical treatment.

Takos (pictured), who had worked at the club for nearly 15 years before becoming a board member in March, said the Crows’ “deeply concerning” response to the AFL’s Covid mandate had left him with no choice but to stand down.

He explained “I cannot agree to the imposition of that corporate edict on my health, values and convictions, and those of other staff, players and members, despite the personal cost.
The Club later confirmed Takos was "unable to fulfil his obligations" in regards to being double vaccinated, noting he was “in breach of the club’s vaccination policy” by not complying with vaccine directive.

The board vacancy created by Takos will be filled early next year when the club conducts its annual nomination and election process.

Takos is the second Adelaide staff member to refuse getting the jab, with AFLW premiership player Deni Varnhagen placed on the inactive player list last month.

Along with requiring to be vaccinated to attend Crows headquarters, Adelaide Oval has also implemented a Covid mandate for anyone entering the venue.

Last month Adelaide Oval management also announced anyone wanting to enter the venue, which hosts all AFL games in South Australia, must be fully vaccinated.