AFL Covid news: Adelaide Crows working to resolve issue with vaccine hesitant staff member

The Adelaide Crows have another Covid situation with an apprehensive staff member in the wake of vaccine-resistant Deni Varnhagen’s axing.

Adelaide is working through another instance of Covid-19 vaccination hesitancy at the club.

A fortnight after dual AFLW premiership Crow Deni Varnhagen was placed on the inactive list due to her refusal to receive a coronavirus vaccination, Adelaide revealed one of its staff members was reluctant to get the jab.

Under an internal club policy, formulated over several months, employees must have had their first dose by the end of Friday.

The Crows would not reveal who the hesitant employee was but confirmed they were not in the football program.

All of Adelaide’s men’s and women’s players, apart from Varnhagen, have had at least one jab.

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Deni Varnhagen was moved to the club’s inactive list after she refused to the vaccine.

Club chairman John Olsen said the apprehensive staffer worked in administration.

If they did not get vaccinated or have a medical exemption, they would not be able to attend the Crows’ headquarters, trainings, club events or be at Adelaide Oval, which introduced a double vaccination mandate on Thursday.

“We’re working that issue through with that person and hopefully we’ll come to a satisfactory resolution,” Olsen told FIVEaa.

“We want to respect that person’s privacy and we also want to have the capacity to work through the issue with them as best we possibly can.

“But at the end of the day the AFL has made it clear, Adelaide Oval has now made it clear that double vaccination is a requirement to fulfil duties.

“We’ve got to protect everybody’s interests in this, that means all staff and anybody involved in the club need to recognise that.

“It’s one in, all in.”

Adelaide was not expected to resolve the matter with the employee until next week at the earliest.

It was understood the club had been aware of the staff member’s reluctance for several weeks.

The Crows have provided them with medical information, access to the club doctor and policy background.

News Corp revealed in October that inaugural Crow Varnhagen did not want to have the Covid vaccination.

Varnhagen at a protest against mandatory Covid vaccinations for SA Heath workers. Picture 7 NEWS

She was placed on the inactive list earlier this month due her unwillingness to receive the jab – a requirement for all AFL and AFLW players.

The defender is contracted until the end of the upcoming season and if she does not change her mind, she will be cut from the squad.

Adelaide chief executive Tim Silvers said the club continued to support Varnhagen and had offered vaccine education opportunities for her to consider but it respected her decision.

“It’s disappointing to some extent, being a premiership player and part of the fabric of our club as a foundation player,” Silvers told News Corp.

“We’ve made a decision as a club that we fully support the AFL’s decision around requirement of vaccinations.”

The Stadium Management Authority announced a crowd of 35,000 – 65 per cent of capacity – could attend next month’s Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval and everyone would need to be double vaccinated.

Silvers said he would like to see a full house at the ground for Round 1 of the AFL next season “but that might be wishful thinking”.

He said the club would watch how the cricket unfolded before it discussed 2022 football attendances with SA Health in the new year.

“Hopefully as we continue to up our vax rates, there’s more opportunity for bigger crowds when the season rolls around in March,” he said.

Originally published as AFL Covid news: Adelaide Crows working to resolve issue with vaccine hesitant staff member