Former Blue Levi Casboult poised to receive Covid vaccine before Friday’s AFL rookie draft
As he awaits a career lifeline in the rookie draft, this is why ex-Blue Levi Casboult has been hesitant to be vaccinated against Covid.
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Levi Casboult is expected to be vaccinated by next Friday’s rookie draft to allow Gold Coast to secure him in a move that would extend his 154-game career at Carlton.
The Herald Sun revealed on Monday the Suns would only secure Casboult if he was vaccinated after he was keen to delay his first injection until the Novavax vaccine arrived in Australia.
It is not yet TGA-approved and the Suns are unwilling to use a list spot on an unvaccinated player who is not guaranteed to play next year given the league’s vaccine mandate.
But Casboult’s camp has indicated he is now leaning towards meeting that deadline and having his first injection by next week.
It would pave the way for Gold Coast to secure him in the rookie draft and add critical key position cover for a young side that has brought in free agent Mabior Chol but is still thin for key position stocks.
The Casboult family is believed to have done its own research into vaccine safety after a reaction to a vaccine in their family in recent years.
So they believe the protein-based Novavax vaccine would be the safest, but given it does not have approval Casboult would need to take another kind of vaccine.
The Suns are keen to ensure they do not fall short at either end or in the ruck if they get another spate of injuries, after Jarrod Witts went down early last season.
Casboult has shown he is equally proficient as a ruckman, key defender or key back so would be likely to play games next year if his body holds up.
All of the 55 Victorian draft aspirants who attended an official AFL training session on Monday were vaccinated, with clubs not expecting any high selections to have vaccine hesitancy.
The AFL and clubs do not foresee any issues with those young players, who will all have to be double vaccinated to play in Round 1 next year.
The Suns have been pilloried for their decision to delist Hugh Greenwood temporarily, paving the way for North Melbourne to swoop in and secure him on a two-year $1 million deal with a five-game trigger for a third season.
Key defender Rory Thompson, also off the list and waiting to be re-listed, is next to no chance to get to a club like Carlton despite full back Liam Jones’ shock retirement.
Thompson will go into the pre-season draft where the Suns have the third pick and has put a price on his head which is the price of the next two years of his contract.
Given he hasn’t played since Round 19, 2019 rivals would be unlikely to take a risk on securing him given his contract size and injury history.
The Suns have been severely embarrassed by the Greenwood episode but while it is a poor look for the club it will allow them to give inside midfield time to Jack Bowes, Brayden Fiorini, Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson alongside vice-captain Touk Miller.
The PR disaster is far from ideal but in truth the club’s midfield plans might have seen him pushed to the forward line by the back half of next year if the Suns’ ambitious list build plans come to fruition.
EARLIER REPORT: CASBOULT CAREER IN LIMBO OVER VACCINE
Gold Coast would need an assurance from Levi Casboult he had the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine or an appointment for one in coming weeks to select him in next Friday’s rookie draft.
It is believed Casboult, the ex-Blue teammate of Liam Jones, has delayed being jabbed and was instead waiting for the novavax vaccine, a protein vaccine not yet available in Australia.
The Suns have not made an official commitment to ruck forward Casboult but are keen to use the November 26 rookie draft to add him to their list for big man cover.
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Because he would be training on the Gold Coast he would not officially need a first dose of an approved vaccine by January 21 under the AFL’s rules for players in Queensland.
He would then need a second dose by February 18.
But the Herald Sun understands the Suns would not be prepared to put him on their list only to wait for him to get a jab in coming months given their determination to set an example on vaccines.
The league has told clubs they are at the forefront of community standards on dealing with Covid-19 and must take up the fight to vaccinate Australia.
It would be a poor message to send to the community for the Suns to take a risk on a player who had not yet had a vaccine and was waiting for a specific one that might not arrive any time soon.
It would also be a PR nightmare for the Suns, who lost veteran Hugh Greenwood to North Melbourne in a shock move on Monday.
So Casboult will need to decide whether he wants to have that first shot of vaccine or can show the Suns proof of his appointment to be vaccinated by next Friday’s rookie draft at 2.50pm.
Suns football boss Wayne Campbell would not comment on Casboult’s vaccine status when asked on 3AW radio.
“I can confirm we’ve spoken to Levi … whether it plays out or it doesn’t (will unfold), an individual’s vaccination status isn’t for me to go in to,” Campbell said.
Two Roos yet to be vaccinated
North Melbourne remains confident two players currently living interstate will get the jab before returning to pre-season training early next year.
The pair’s current vaccination status remains unclear, but the club says interstate-based members of the team do not yet need to have the jab, given they are not scheduled to return to pre-season training until mid-January.
“As per the Victorian State Government mandate, our entire AFLW program has received both vaccine doses and our players are in full training,” the club said in a statement.
“Similarly, all AFL players attending pre-season training will have been double vaccinated. Given travel restrictions, and in line with past pre-seasons, some of our players will remain interstate with their families from now until the Christmas break.
“Again, in line with the government mandate, it is our expectation those players will be fully vaccinated ahead of their return.”
It comes as three West Coast players are believed to yet receive a jab.
“Our players, who are currently on leave from the club, understand the AFL’s mandate and we are confident they will all be vaccinated by the required deadlines so they can continue to train and play,” the Eagles said in a statement
AFLW Crow goes in to bat for Jones on vax stance
Adelaide premiership player Deni Varnhagen has thrown her support behind Liam Jones’ decision to abandon his career over his reluctance to become vaccinated.
The Crows star told the Herald Sun on Monday she was “proud” of his stance.
Registered ICU nurse Varnhagen has been placed on Adelaide’s inactive list after refusing to become vaccinated against Covid, and appeared at a protest in Adelaide against mandatory vaccinations for healthcare workers.
When contacted by the Herald Sun about Carlton star fullback Jones’ decision to retire on Monday, she said he was not alone.
“I want to congratulate Liam on his AFL career and wish him all the best in his retirement. I’m very proud to see him staying true to himself and want him to know he’s definitely not alone, more people are about to step up,” Varnhagen said.
Jones is the only known men’s AFL player to refuse a vaccination as the Blues confirmed on Monday they had not paid out any of his 2022 contract worth as much as $500,000.
Carlton football boss Brad Lloyd said the club’s main consideration for Jones was his welfare, but confirmed he had walked away from his deal.
“From a salary cap point of view, there’s no issue there with his retirement,” he told Radio Sports National.
Asked why Jones had not been placed on an inactive list that could have seen him ultimately vaccinated and returning before Round 1, Lloyd said Jones was adamant his only course of action was to retire.
If the Blues had any hope he might be able to change his stance, they could have considered alternate solutions.
But Jones had made clear to Carlton chief executive Brian Cook in the past 48 hours he was walking away from the game.
Despite speculation that one leading draft prospect is not yet double-vaccinated, the AFL does not foresee any issues ahead of Wednesday week’s national draft.
AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan said 55 Victorian prospects due for a mini draft combine involving testing and a training session on Monday were all double vaccinated.
The session will take place from 1pm at Sandringham’s Trevor Barker Oval, with only two players missing from the invitees list.
One player has a Year 12 exam and another player has had an operation which delayed his second jab.
He will have his second vaccine in due course but had the operation last week, which delayed that injection.
AFL Players’ Association CEO Paul Marsh said the policy between the AFLPA and the AFL was agreed upon with the understanding some players may elect not to be vaccinated.
“The AFL Players’ Association respects Liam’s right to make this decision and also respects his request for privacy,” Marsh said.
“As such, we will not be making any comments about Liam’s specific situation.
“The AFLPA congratulates Liam on his AFL career and his contribution to the game. As a past player, Liam will continue to have the support of all AFLPA services and people.”
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