Geelong Cats star Patrick Dangerfield has vaccination message for AFL players

Geelong Cats star and AFLPA president Patrick Dangerfield says he has ‘strong’ feelings about getting vaccinated against Covid-19.

Dangerfield is urging his AFL contemporaries to roll up their sleeves. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

While AFL Players Association president Patrick Dangerfield feels it is not the AFLPA’s place to mandate Covid-19 vaccination, he hopes his fellow footballers will join him in rolling up their sleeves for the good of the game and the community.

The AFL has strongly encouraged its players to become vaccinated against Covid-19 and aims to finalise its vaccination policy by the end of this season.

The league is currently negotiating the terms of that policy with the AFLPA, which has previously said it would not support compulsory vaccination.

Watch every 2021 Toyota AFL Finals Series match before Grand Final. Live & Ad-Break Free on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >

One of five AFLPA board members currently playing in the AFL, Geelong star Dangerfield said he was “strong” on encouraging vaccination, but stood by the AFLPA’s stance on mandatory inoculation.

“I think it’s important for all people to be vaccinated,” he told reporters on Thursday.

“With regards to it being mandatory, that’s something that will be decided on by the governments, health authorities and others, so that’s not necessarily for me to comment on.

“From my personal perspective, it’s something that I’m really strong on. I’m certainly not sitting on the fence.

“Do your due diligence around your research but listen to the health authorities and it’s pretty clear cut.”

Dangerfield has made his stance on vaccination very clear. Picture: Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images

Dangerfield said the AFL had educated its players about the link between vaccination and returning to Covid normal.

“The education has been very, very clear for all to see,” he said.

“My wife’s vaccinated, my parents are and I’ll be doing the same as soon as the season finishes up.”

The season is over for all but four AFL teams and players from eliminated sides have already begun lining up for Covid-19 jabs.

Dangerfield said he and his Geelong teammates would join the queue once the curtain came down on their 2021 campaign.

“It’s something that we’re strong on,” he said.

“It’s an important part of us going forward as a community and as a collective nation to get back to as normal as we can. We listen to the relevant health experts.

“It’s clear. The path forward is through vaccination.”

AFL legend @ShaunBurgoyne9 brought his sons, Percy and Ky to VAHS for their first Covid vaccination. Too deadly Percy and Ky 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 pic.twitter.com/TPIZllyD8w

— Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (@VAHS1972) September 2, 2021

The skipper has got his first vaccination.

Have you? If not, seek the necessary advice from your GP or medical practitioner.

Let’s create a safer community together ✊ pic.twitter.com/GTwaxie50J

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) September 2, 2021

Before they schedule their vaccination appointments, Dangerfield and the Cats must focus their attention on this weekend’s preliminary final.

The Cats will meet the Demons in a grand final qualifier at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Friday night.

Four of the sides’ last seven encounters have been decided by less than a goal, with a Max Gawn major breaking Geelong’s heart after the siren in the most recent of those.

Dangerfield said the last-gasp loss would not be on his mind come Friday night.

“We won’t be drawing too much on that last time we played Melbourne and how they won the game,” he said.

The Demons got the better of the Cats in round 23. Picture: Dylan Burns / AFL Photos via Getty Images

Dangerfield said he was very much looking forward to running out at Optus Stadium for the seventh preliminary final of Chris Scott’s 11-year tenure as senior coach.

“It’s an incredible place to play footy,” Dangerfield said.

“It’s a wonderful amphitheatre and it’s going to be an incredible prelim and grand final with the way that the city’s embraced this finals series.

“That’s the great part about footy, I think – the passion that the crowds and those that follow the game put forward.”

Originally published as Geelong Cats star Patrick Dangerfield has vaccination message for AFL players