Tara Murray
All players and staff involved in the Williamstown and Footscray’s VFL and VFLW teams will need to receive the COVID-19 vaccine ahead of 2022 seasons.
AFL Victoria announced on Wednesday it’s COVID-19 vaccination policy for the competitions.
Under the policy all VFL, VFLW and talent pathway players and football program staff will need to be vaccinated in advance of the start of the 2022 seasons.
NAB League Boys and Girls, the AFL and AFLW academies and all levels of the national championships program are included in this policy.
All players and staff involved need to receive their first dose by November 24 and be fully vaccinated by December 22.
Players and football program staff that do not comply with the vaccination requirement that apply to them will not be able to attend club premises including to train or play, absent a medical exemption approved by the AFL.
The AFL has written to the South Australian National Football League and West Australian Football League to recommend a similar policy is adopted in those state-league competitions.
AFL executive general manager football and general counsel Andrew Dillon reiterated the need to protect the health and safety of all players, staff and the wider community.
“Our policy delivers on our commitment to be protect our players, staff and the wider community across many levels of football, so we can once again unite as families, as friends, as work colleagues, as teammates, as supporters, as communities, as one,” Dillon said.
“State-league football and the talent pathway programs play an integral part in the football ecosystem that supports the elite AFL and AFLW competitions and the AFL shares responsibility to minimize the risk of exposure of COVID-19 across these levels of football.”
“We will continue to work with all clubs, players and staff to provide the support and guidance through this evolving situation.”
