AFL and cricket fans in dark over vaccine protocols at Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval and health authorities are at odds over a possible vaccine mandate as it remains unclear whether spectators will have to be jabbed to attend the Ashes Test.
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A day after the AFL’s introduction of mandatory vaccinations for players, a call is yet to be made on whether Adelaide Oval spectators will need to receive the jab.
The AFL on Thursday revealed its Covid policy, which stipulated that all AFLW players must be fully vaccinated by December 1 ahead of the January 6 start to their season, while those in the men’s competition had to be jabbed by February 18 to take part in Round 1.
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Adelaide Oval’s next major sports event is cricket’s Ashes Test from December 16 to 20, little more than eight weeks away.
A Stadium Management Authority spokesman said the organisation was “actively monitoring the discussion around vaccination minimums for venues”.
“In the meantime we will continue to rely on the guidance of SA Health and all other relevant authorities,” he said.
In its statement to News Corp, SA Health said the vaccination was only mandatory for select members of the community but “individual businesses and venues may choose to mandate the vaccine for their patrons”.
“We want to keep South Australians as safe as possible while still enabling events to go ahead in a Covid-safe way, and our number one priority is protecting the health and wellbeing of our community,” the statement said.
“It has never been easier to receive the Covid-19 vaccine and we encourage all eligible South Australians to get vaccinated if they haven’t already done so.”
The AFL said it would continue to work with and be led by the government and medical authorities on a return to AFLW and AFL crowds in 2022.
Vax ultimatum for jab-resistant Crow
Adelaide Crows player Deni Varnhagen has been given two months to be fully vaccinated, along with all AFLW players, or face being banned from playing next year.
It is understood that she has agreed to meet AFL-provided experts to discuss her reluctance to have the Covid vaccination after she was revealed as the first known player to resist having the jab.
The dual premiership player faces an uncertain future following the league’s new hard-line policy that AFLW footballers must be fully jabbed by December 17 to take the field next year.
Varnhagen is also an ICU nurse and medical staff in South Australia have been set a November 1 vaccination date by the state’s health authorities.
The Advertiser revealed on Sunday that Varnhagen had told the Crows she was not yet willing to have the Covid-19 vaccination.
She had advised the club she was not yet ready to make an informed choice.
Under the AFL’s policy released on Thursday, clubs will have the right to sack players who refuse to be vaccinated.
AFLW players have been given a December 17 deadline for their January 6 season start, while AFL players have until February 18 next year before being ruled out of competition.
It is understood Varnhagen has this week agreed to talk to experts provided by the AFL, so she can be as educated as much as possible on the topic.
Her management group said on Thursday that it was a matter for her and the club to discuss.
Under the AFL’s policy Varnhagen, 28, has to get a first dose by November 19 and to be fully vaccinated by December 17 – as part of the second stage of the policy.
If Varnhagen doesn’t change her stance then she will not be able to attend the Crows premises including to train to play, “absent a medical exemption approved by the AFL”.
Under the policy the Crows could terminate Varnhagen’s contract with her permission or keep her on their list but not play her in 2022.
The Advertiser understands after talks with multiple people at the club that Varnhagen is the only member of the Crows’ AFLW squad who has not been either fully, or partially, vaccinated or is about to receive a Covid-19 jab.
Varnhagen is also a registered nurse, and SA Health has ruled that all medical staff must receive their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccination by November 1.
She has said she is not an “anti-vaxxer” but posted a number of messages and photos on her Instagram account prior to Sunday backing “freedom of choice”.
She attended a ‘freedom rally’ in the Adelaide CBD on Saturday, and posted a picture of a sign that said, “health care hero’s in 2020 … unvaxed unwanted in 2021 …” and added the words “no logic..”.
It is understood that Crows officials have had numerous discussions with Varnhagen about her reluctance to get the vaccine.
She can still train with the Crows AFLW side for the next month, if she doesn’t get the vaccine and has been at training this week.
The Crows male players and their Port Adelaide counterparts come under the third stage of the AFL’s policy.
Under this they have to receive a first dose by January 21 2022 and fully vaccinated February 18.
Crows AFLW player resists jab, pushes ‘freedom of choice’
An Adelaide AFLW premiership player has told the Crows she is not yet willing to have the Covid-19 vaccination, becoming the league’s first known footballer to resist having the jab.
News Corp understands two-time premiership Crow Deni Varnhagen has advised the club that she has not yet been able to make an informed choice on whether to have the vaccine.
It’s understood she is the only member of the Crows’ AFLW squad who has not been either fully, or partially, vaccinated or is about to receive a Covid-19 jab, News Corp understands after talks with multiple people at the club.
It is not mandatory for AFL or AFLW players in South Australia to be vaccinated.
When contacted by News Corp, the Crows said in a statement “our club strongly encourages people to be vaccinated against Covid-19”.
“The club remains committed to following the health advice and guidelines set by the government and the AFL.”
Varnhagen declined to comment on Sunday.
The AFL said on Sunday it was still finalising its vaccination policy.
Varnhagen, who works in the medical profession, has said she is not an “anti-vaxxer” but has posted a number of messages and photos on her Instagram account in recent days backing “freedom of choice”.
South Australian Health has ruled that all medical staff must receive their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccination by November 1.
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Following a rally in the city on Saturday, Varnhagen posted a picture of a sign that said, “health care hero’s in 2020 … unvaxed unwanted in 2021 …” and added the words “no logic..”.
The Crows footballer had previously captioned a photo on her social media account of people at an Adelaide “freedom protest” with the words: “Thousands marching for Freedom of Choice!”.
As it stands in South Australia, she is able to train with the Crows AFLW side.
In Victoria, AFL players are covered by a state government mandate that all essential workers had to have at least one Covid-19 vaccine by Friday, October 15.
All essential workers in Victoria must be fully vaccinated by November 26. The women’s competition begins on January 6.
At least two Melbourne AFLW clubs have begun using rapid antigen testing before players are allowed to take part in pre-season training sessions.
“The State Liberal Government has no plans to mandate vaccination for those working outside of specific professions in the interest of public safety,” an SA Government spokesman said.
“We will be making it easy for those who have been vaccinated to show this through the SaGov app, but ultimately mandatory vaccination requirements will be decisions for individual businesses, such as the AFL.”
Last month, Crows chairman John Olsen told News Corp running next year’s AFL season would be “complicated” unless players were vaccinated against Covid-19.
Olsen, who has had both jabs, said this was the “way forward”.
“It will be so complicated to run a season next year if vaccinations aren’t the order of the day,” he said.
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