Calls for AFL fans to be banned from matches if they don't have a COVID-19 vaccine

Tony Shepherd, Chairman of AFL team GWS Giants and Venues NSW, has called for unvaccinated fans to be banned from AFL games.

Repeating comments he made last month about unvaccinated fans not being allowed into stadiums, Shepherd said he has been encouraging Giants players and officials to get inoculated.

With NSW today marking the halfway point to the 80% vaccination mark for adults as of today, Shepherd, in comments reported by Melbourne newspaper the Herald Sun, stated “I'm a firm believer in vaccinations being required for people to attend events.

“Whether that be at restaurants, bars, sporting events, hospitality or getting on planes or going overseas.

“I see it as the answer … we are certainly promoting it at the Giants.”

Shepherd predicted that the AFL will soon ramp-up its messaging around vaccinations after the industry was chastised for not advocating the jab enough, telling ABC Grandstand “I think they have, they are ramping it up quite solidly.

“I have been out very strongly encouraging it both with my Giants and Venues NSW hats on.

He also pointed out that GWS Giants “players have been on advertisements for the Ministry of Health and Ministry for Sport in NSW encouraging people to get vaccinated.”

“I have been out very strongly encouraging it both with my Giants and Venues NSW hats on.”

“We see it as the solution to getting on with life.”

As for how fans would prove they had been vaccinated, he suggested that the ‘passport type technology would have to be “convenient”, noting “you have it on your iPhone, it’s a QR code that shows proof of identity that you have had your shots.

“It has to be as simple as that … you want it to be simple and easy to use and I don’t think that is beyond the wit of modern technology to do.”

Suggesting that the technology could be linked to ticketing systems, he concluded “it has to be simple and practical, I would like to see it linked to the ticketing system

“So you don’t get a ticket until you have proven that you are vaccinated.

“We will see what the government will do in establishing something, but other countries are doing it … it’s not that hard.”

Image: GWS Giants fans (top) and Tony Shepherd, Chairman of AFL team GWS Giants and Venues NSW (below).