St Kilda’s Georgia Patrikios has become the second player to refuse the vaccine
St Kilda AFLW star Georgia Patrikios has revealed her reasons for why she wont be receiving the jab - a decision that has ended her season before it began.
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St Kilda AFLW star Georgia Patrikios is the second women’s footballer to admit she doesn’t want to have the Covid-19 vaccine.
Patrikios, a two-time best and fairest winner for the Saints, took leave from the club in the wake of the AFL’s new Covid-19 vaccination policy last month.
At the time St Kilda would not confirm if it was due to the policy, which requires players and staff to be fully vaccinated to play, train and enter clubs.
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In a statement on Tuesday, the 20-year-old said she understood her “personal timeline” did not align with the AFL’s policy.
“I’ve been taking some time away from the club to consider my options and dissect my own feelings about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine,” she said.
“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.”
Patrikios is the second AFLW player known to have resisted getting the vaccine.
Before the AFL introduced its mandatory policy, News Corp revealed that two-time Adelaide premiership player Deni Varnhagen - also a registered ICU nurse - had told the Crows she did not want to get the vaccine.
She has been since added to the Crows inactive list, as part of the AFL’s policy.
St Kilda chief executive Matt Finnis said the Saints were not putting their star on their inactive list yet.
“We respect Georgia’s right to take her time in making this decision and she has our support while doing so,” he said.
“However, our club also fully supports the vaccination requirements of the Victorian Government and the AFL and encourages all of our people and the broader community to get vaccinated.
“The club has opted to not place Georgia on the inactive list at this time, however we will obviously need to revisit this decision in coming weeks pending Georgia’s position as the commencement of the AFLW season fast approaches.”
Last week Carlton defender Liam Jones walked away from the game because he refused to get the vaccine.
Giants player tests positive for Covid
GWS has confirmed a member of its AFLW program has tested positive to Covid-19 after travelling to Melbourne over the weekend.
Three other Giants players have also been deemed close contacts but have since tested negative and will continue to self-isolate.
The player initially returned a positive result via a rapid antigen test and had it confirmed through a PCR test, she had not attended the club following her return from Melbourne.
Melbourne premiership captain Max Gawn said yesterday he expected the AFL to reintroduce Covid restrictions on players once full squads returned to training.
The comments came as Richmond players Noah Balta and Dion Prestia contracted Covid-19 at the weekend.
Richmond’s medical staff are monitoring the situation with both players “totally fine” as they deal with the virus.
Gawn said “every decision” to leave his house over the past two years came with the risk of potential exposure to the virus and the consequences of that.
“For some reason, that seems to have gone away,” he told 3AW yesterday.
“But I reckon that’s going to come right back once we start training.
“I feel like the AFL might come over the top with a few different little rules, just to keep their players safe.
“10 days (isolation) out of pre-season would be lovely but 10 days out of the season could be two games, so I guess we’ve got to watch that space.”
GAWN WARNS OF AFL Covid CRACKDOWN
Melbourne premiership captain Max Gawn says he expects the AFL to reintroduce Covid restrictions on players once full squads returned to training.
Three players from two different clubs have tested positive of late, as Victoria’s daily case numbers continue to hover around the 1000 a day mark.
Gawn said “every decision” to leave his house over the past two years came with the risk of potential exposure to the virus and the consequences of that.
“For some reason, that seems to have gone away,” he said on 3AW.
“But I reckon that’s going to come right back once we start training.
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“I feel like the AFL might come over the top with a few different little rules, just to keep their players safe.
“10 days (isolation) out of pre-season would be lovely but 10 days out of the season could be two games, so I guess we’ve got to watch that space.”
Collingwood coach Craig McRae said he expected Covid disruption to be a feature of the 2022 season.
“We have to test daily before we get in (to the club) and there’s some mitigating risk, if you like,” he said.
“I think it’s just going to be part and parcel of the season.
“We’ve seen in the NFL players miss games and even coaches, so it’s something we’re going to have to stay on top of.”
Meanwhile, Richmond is confident premiership pair Dion Prestia and Noah Balta will be ready to report to pre-season training next month as they recover from Covid-19.
The pair are isolating at home after testing positive over the weekend and aren’t required to report back to Punt Rd until December 6.
Richmond’s medical staff are monitoring the situation with both players “totally fine” as they deal with the virus.
The Tigers’ first-to-fourth year players made a return to the training track on Monday and were joined by several of their senior teammates.
Key forward Tom Lynch, who struggled with a knee injury this season, looked in excellent condition while new recruit, former Kangaroo Robbie Tarrant, was also in earlier than required to get acquainted with his new surroundings.
Tigers premiership stars contract Covid
Richmond players Dion Prestia and Noah Balta are in isolation after being diagnosed with coronavirus.
All of the close contacts of the premiership winning pair have been identified and have been tested.
In a statement, Richmond Football club confirmed the Tigers’ first-to-fourth year players will be able to commence their pre-season training on Monday without disruption.
“Dion Prestia and Noah Balta have tested positive to Covid and are in isolation,” Richmond Football Club said in a statement posted online.
“Close contacts have been tested as appropriate.
“It will not interrupt the commencement of pre-season training for 1-4 year players next Monday.”
Their diagnosis comes after a player from the Tigers’ AFLW squad tested positive for the illness last month.
The Western Bulldogs AFLW squad were also forced to cancel training earlier this month after a member of their program was diagnosed with Covid-19.
The AFL and AFLW require all players to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to play in the respective competitions next year.
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