AFL introduces ‘no jab no play’ COVID-19 vaccination mandate

The AFL has released its long-awaited vaccination policy, which mandates that all AFL and AFLW players will be barred from playing and training if they are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by mid-February.

Released by the AFL in conjunction with the AFL Players Association (AFLPA), the long-awaited vaccination policy covering AFL and AFLW players and staff states that Victorian-based players and staff will need to have had both vaccination doses by November 26, a date set for all authorised workers by the Victorian Government.

Following that, NSW players and staff will need to be fully immunised by 17th December while the deadline for Queensland, South Australian and Western Australian players and staff is 18th February.

With clubs to ultimately determine action on staff who do not receive the jab, for players who do not have a medical exemption, there will be options to transfer them on to an inactive list, with their receiving no less than 25% of their contracted salary, or agree to part ways.

Players and staff who fail to comply with the vaccination policy will not be able to attend club or AFL premises to train or play.

Releasing the policy, the AFL advised “the policy reflects the AFL's strongly held view that as the governing body of the sport, we share a responsibility to address the risk of exposure to COVID-19 of our players and football program staff, and in delivering upon this responsibility, TGA-approved vaccines offer the best possible protection in keeping our people safe, healthy and together.”

The statement went on to say that the vaccine policy provided the sport with the opportunity to recover from the COVID-19 interruptions that have beset both the AFL and AFLW competitions in these past two years, adding “the policy strongly encourages all persons in the AFL industry to be vaccinated as soon as they are practicably able to be. The AFL acknowledges and thanks the industry for the levels of vaccination that have already been achieved."

Advising that the health and safety of players, staff and the wider community was a guiding principle governing the AFL's ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AFL Executive General Manager Football and General Counsel, Andrew Dillon explained “the AFL has undertaken extensive education programs across the clubs and industry in regard to Covid-19 vaccinations and we will continue to be led by the government and medical professionals.

“The uptake of AFL industry people being vaccinated has so far been extremely encouraging and we are very pleased the overwhelming majority of our players, coaches, staff members across the AFL and the 18 clubs have at the very least received their first vaccination shot.”

AFLPA Chief Executive Paul Marsh said the organisation had made clear its belief in the importance of COVID-19 vaccinations, adding "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.”

The Victorian Government’s requirement about a range of workers, which includes sport players, came into effect last Friday.

However, the AFL’s announcement forces players in other states to be vaccinated.

At this time the NRL has not indicated its stance on player vaccinations.