St Kilda AFLW star Georgia Patrikios remains unvaccinated, however the club will hold off on placing her on the inactive list.
In a statement released on Tuesday afternoon, Patrikios confirmed she had not yet received any dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, however she was continuing to educate herself and is yet to make a “final decision”.
Meanwhile, Saints CEO Matt Finnis said the club was supporting Patrikios and is not placing her on the inactive list just yet.
However, they will need clarity on her decision in the near future as the AFLW season approaches.
The league's vaccination policy requires all AFL and AFLW players to be vaccinated before the start of their respective seasons.
The Saints had previously confirmed in October that Patrikios had taken a leave of absence from the club.
The 20-year-old is St Kilda's reigning best and fairest and the only player from the club selected in last year’s All Australian team.
The AFLW season is set to begin on January 6, although the fixture is yet to be announced.
Read Patrikios’ full statement below
I firstly want to thank the St Kilda Football Club, its members and the broader public for the privacy and respect that has been afforded to my family and I over the past few weeks.
I’ve been taking some time away from the club to consider my options and dissect my owns feelings about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. At this time, I remain unvaccinated, however I’m committed to learning more, consulting with additional medical professionals and continuing to discuss this with my family before ultimately making a final decision.
I recognise that my personal timeline does not align with the AFL mandate and as a result I am currently unable to complete my duties at the club. The Saints could not have been more supportive throughout this period, and I thank them all – from Board members, senior club leaders, my coach Nick Dal Santo to my teammates - for their support and patience.
While I continue to educate and arm myself with as much information as possible to help me make this decision, I ask for continued privacy. Thank you.