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AFL great Warren Tredrea takes leave at Channel 9 news over vaccination policy

Port Adelaide legend Warren Tredrea has been mysteriously missing from Nine News. Now he’s walked away with an uncertain future.

Aussie sports shake-up as athletes refuse to get the jab

Port Adelaide legend Warren Tredrea whas been a noticeable absentee on Channel 9 Adelaide’s news broadcasts this week after the station put a new Covid-19 vaccination policy in place.

It comes after Channel 9 introduced a double vaccination mandate for everyone on all its sites nationally.

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Tredrea has been replaced by sports journalist Tom Rehn during the broadcasts off the 5pm and 6pm bulletins, with Tredrea missing back-to-back nights.

Both Tredrea and Nine declined to comment to Adelaide’s The Advertiser.

Tredrea, a four-time All-Australian who played all 255 games of his AFL career for the Power including captaining the side’s 2004 premiership team, previously described himself as “pro-choice” when it comes to the Covid vaccinations.

It has now been revealed Tredrea has made a snap decision to take leave.

The Adrtiser reports Tredrea’s future is under a cloud. A Nine spokesperson told the newspaper Tredrea has gone on holidays immediately.

“Warren has chosen to take some time off, which is not unusual for our news, sport and weather presenters as we enter the summer, non-ratings period,” the spokesman said.

“This year it suited Warren to begin his time off earlier.”

The report details Tredrea has engaged legal representation and talks with the station’s lawyers surrounding the new vaccination policy remain ongoing.

Tredrea has been working for Nine Adelaide since 2013 and has also been a regular guest and expert commentator on radio station FIVEaa for the AFL season.

Warren Tredrea was missing from the Channel 9 broadcasts. Photo: Twitter
Warren Tredrea was missing from the Channel 9 broadcasts. Photo: Twitter

Speaking on the radio station earlier this year, Tredrea shared that he believed in was an individual’s right to make their own choice.

“No I’m not, I’m fully vaccinated … but I’m not Covid vaccinated,” he said in September. “Everyone is entitled to what they want to do because it’s your body.”

When speaking about the double vaccination mandate for AFL players, he also said: “It’s everyone’s individual situation and choice. So if a player doesn’t want to do it, that’s fine, that’s their decision. You shouldn’t be able to lose your employment.”

The AFL policy is essentially no jab, no play as unvaccinated players won’t be able to attend club or AFL premises, including to train or play, unless they have a league-approved medical exemption.

Tredrea also labelled the vaccine as “discriminatory” as certain religious and age groups can’t get the vaccine and said that it should be “a confidential right” and that people should be able to “make your own choice and do your own homework.”

A Nine spokesman told The Advertiser the “health and safety of our people and the continuity of operations” was behind the new vaccination policy.

“As such we are working to implement processes in our workplaces to ensure we have positive confirmation of vaccination status for everyone who comes onto our sites around the country from December 1 to ensure we are operating within the relevant health regulations,” the spokesman said.

Port captain Warren Tredrea with the premiership cup in 2004.
Port captain Warren Tredrea with the premiership cup in 2004.
Tredrea is at odds with Nine’s policy. Picture: Gina Milicia/Channel 9
Tredrea is at odds with Nine’s policy. Picture: Gina Milicia/Channel 9

Rehn spoke on FIVEaa’s Breakfast with David Penberthy and Will Goodings and said he hoped Tredrea would return to the desk.

It came after the hosts said they hoped Tredrea would “come to his senses and get jabbed”.

“It was a strange day that’s for sure,” Rehn said.

“Warren’s someone I consider a very close friend and a great person to work with. I hope he is going to be there,

“As far as I’m aware he’s on some leave at the moment, he was due to go off pretty soon anyway. I’m hoping we see him back, he’s an A-grade person, fantastic guy to work with and a great team player.”

Read related topics:Adelaide

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/warren-tredrea-refuses-to-read-channel-9-news-over-vaccination-policy/news-story/07ef0ca5322b22795589ff86ce05816c