AFL Players’ Association CEO Paul Marsh has spoken on the AFL’s vaccination policy, saying it’s something they had to implement, but has left the door open for it to change in the future.
The policy essentially enforces players to become vaccinated before the start of the AFL and AFLW seasons, with players’ contracts able to be terminated on May 18 next year if they remain unvaccinated.
Marsh says his organisation and the AFL were originally on the same page about not enforcing vaccinations, but the Victorian government's directions forced their hand.
“Both us and the AFL started with the view that we wouldn’t mandate vaccinations, but when it became obvious through the Victorian government directions and other states and their border restrictions that players wouldn’t be able to play AFL in the current environment, we reached an agreement on this,” Marsh told SEN’s Whateley.
“It is important to note that part of the policy is we can change it, should government directions change.”
The Victorian government has mandated all essential workers be double vaccinated by November 26.
As such, it would be impossible for AFL players to train or play after that date, however there is potential for the mandate to be changed in the future.
It’s why the AFL’s policy leaves the option for amendments down the track, but what is currently in place is designed to protect the players.
“If (the Victorian government’s mandate changes), we have built into the policy a review mechanism, so we can sit down with the AFL and work out if the policy needs to change if the Victorian government directions changes,” Marsh continued.
“But it’s not just the Victorian government, we’ve also got border issues and states not letting anyone in if they’re not double vaccinated.
“When you actually play this out, it’s impossible to play if you’re not double vaccinated. Right now, it’s impossible for Victorian players to train if they’re not double vaccinated.
“We could have left this in a position with no policy, we sought legal advice on that. Our legal advice was really clear that employers could stand down employees who weren’t vaccinated.
“So, what we set about was doing was finding a pragmatic outcome where players could receive some compensation that would help them with their choices, they could go on inactive lists and hopefully buy some time, and if directions changed then potentially players could come back on a list.
“So that’s what we’ve been dealing with.”
Marsh also commented on fears players testing positive could cause fixturing chaos during 2022.
Renowned sports doctor Peter Larkins recently told SEN SA’s Kymbo and The Rooch that the AFL would need contingency plans in the possibility of numerous players testing positive.
The players’ association boss admitted the issue is shaping as one which could complicate the upcoming seasons, but predicts there will be solutions in due time.
“Players who are vaccinated are required to be locked down for seven days (if they test positive), we’ve seen that a few times already,” Marsh said.
“Whether that’ll end up closer to the season, that’s something I know the AFL is working through with various governments, but that’s going to be a complicating factor for the season coming up for sure.
“I think everything’s possible at the moment.
“It’s something we’re planning for with the AFL, as we get closer to the womens' season and then the mens' we’ll have some pretty clear solutions I hope.”
The AFLW season is scheduled to get underway on January 6, while the AFL will kick off in mid-March.