AFLNT welcomes vaccine policies from NT Government and AFL

AFLNT has welcomed the NT novernment and AFL’s vaccination mandates and is meeting with affiliated clubs next week to determine what a vaccine policy will mean for footy players.

AFLNT has welcomed the NT novernment and AFL’s vaccination mandates and is meeting with affiliated clubs next week to determine what a vaccine policy will mean for footy players.

The NT government’s announcement of a November 13 date for at least one dose has left industries rushing to meet the deadline.

And following a no jab, no play policy from the national AFL body, the AFLNT may soon follow suit.

AFLNT chairman Sean Bowden said he was working with the NT government and AFL on what a vaccine policy would mean for community football. “AFLNT welcomed both the NT government’s announcement about vaccination mandates for certain workers and the AFL’s policy mandating vaccinations for players and staff,” Mr Bowden said.

“It is clear that being vaccinated will help to ensure our people and communities can be involved in football as they normally would be.

“Governments and medical experts have told us that vaccination is the best way back to any sense of normality and the best form of protection against serious COVID-19 illness.

“Covid has the potential to cause great harm to people’s health and wellbeing and to disrupt our normal way of life, including all our sporting competitions.

“As such, we are consulting with Territory club presidents and leaders to develop a formal position on vaccinations for our competitions. In the meantime, we strongly encourage the community to get vaccinated if you can.

“The health and safety of our community is always the top priority. We all need to play our part in keeping our families, clubs and communities safe and getting our industry back to where it was.”

AFL players and staff will not be permitted to take part in the 2022 season unless they are fully vaccinated with Victorian based played needing both doses by November 26.

The deadline for Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia is February 18 and New South Wales December 17. AFLNT has yet to decide on a deadline or policy but the NT government’s mandate will make a similar scenario likely. This comes after Coles and Woolworths announced mandates in line with NT government deadlines for their staff.