South Australian footy leagues weigh in to Covid-19 mandate debate after being excluded from SANFL policy

Football leagues excluded from the SANFL ‘no jab, no play’ policy are calling for a 2022 season guarantee before ruling on their own Covid-19 jab mandates.

South Australia’s local footy leagues are facing major challenges around implementing individual ‘no jab, no play’ vaccine policies ahead of the 2022 season.

Leagues have been left to make their own call after the SANFL chose to exclude community football in its mandate for all players and staff earlier this week.

Adelaide Footy League chief executive John Kernahan said the league wanted a guarantee it would play on for the full season if it was to introduce a mandate.

“The league remains open to a policy but we would need a solid commitment from SA Health that a policy would dilute the likelihood of the relevant authorities imposing any lockdown on our competition in 2022 but at this point there is none,” Kernahan said.

Adelaide Football League CEO John Kernahan remains open to a ‘no jab, no play’ policy but has called for guidance and reassurance from authorities about policing the mandate for next season. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

The state governing football body’s decision may have come as a surprise to local leagues which were expecting to be included in the mandate.

While the onus is now on each league to make a call, Kernahan said there were no hard feelings with the SANFL but that guidance was needed from authorities.

“SANFL and community footy in general have galvanised their relationship through this challenge. They’ve been nothing but supportive,” he said.

“They’ve done what’s best for their competition but relative to community footy there is a significant logistic barrier for all to be compliant. The most relevant being how volunteers would police a mandate.

Goodwood’s Mason Ellis in action last season. Adelaide Footy League clubs may all need to police a vaccine mandate throughout 2022 for the season to go ahead. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“I’ve no doubt volunteers would find a way if SA Health and the relevant authorities provided some guidance but they haven’t outside generic community announcements.”

Hills Football League president Joanne Purdie said she was appreciative of the SANFL avoiding a “broad brush approach”.

“Our clubs have limited financial resources and are managed by volunteers so we have already provided them with the recent SANFL policy and sought their feedback,” Purdie said.

“We’re grateful that SANFL has recognised that community football needs to consider unique logistics.”

Action during the Hills Football League B-grade grand final between Hahndorf and Mt Barker last season. Picture: Supplied

The Hills competition implemented a shorter schedule last season as a result of government mandates and is willing to adhere to any government directions for 2022.

Purdie said consultation with clubs and members – and a consideration of challenging financial logistics – needed to happen before implementing a vaccination policy however.

“We want to preserve the tradition where seniors and juniors play as a club and family units are together on a Saturday as this experience now only takes place in community leagues,” she said.

“Sport in the Hills is integral both socially and financially to our towns and we will continue to support them and consult with them prior to implementing any policy.

“We need to consider any impact it would have on participation and whether clubs can implement and govern a policy – noting that neither the clubs or the league can absorb the financial costs associated with such a responsibility at this point in time.”