The AFL will soon be at odds with the majority of Australia, with the code expected to stick with a COVID-19 vaccination mandate even when that requirement is dropped by governments and other sectors.
It’s a decision that looks certain to keep unvaccinated players such as former Carlton defender Liam Jones – who retired at the end of 2021 after refusing to get the jab – locked out of the AFL for at least the remainder of this season.
“The AFL have told me tonight they will not be changing their rules that they put in place at the start of the season. If you are not double vaccinated you cannot play AFL football,” veteran AFL columnist Caroline Wilson told Nine’s Footy Classified.
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“The AFL’s rules are separate from the government rules. The AFL have a vaccination mandate rule and they’re not going to change that rule this year.”
Jones played 161 career games including 66 at the Western Bulldogs before being traded to Carlton in 2014.
It is widely thought that he would return to the AFL immediately if the vaccination mandate was dropped.
Wilson discussed a suggestion that Jones could line up for the Blues against New South Wales and Victorian-based clubs based on new government rules in those states that will no longer restrict him from attending games and training sessions. However, she was adamant that wouldn’t happen this season due to the AFL’s stance.
She also revealed “strong suggestions” that the Gold Coast Suns might be keen on recruiting the 31-year-old, but insisted Jones would not enter the mid-season draft.
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“He won’t be playing for Carlton unless he gets double vaccinated and that’s probably going to be a bit too late for this season,” Wilson said.
Fellow panellist Eddie McGuire then asked how the AFL could possibly justify upholding their strict vaccination rule with the rest of the country beginning to return to work without a vaccine mandate.
“The suggestion is they put these rules in place at the start of the season and it’s not fair on Carlton who now might not be able to bring Liam Jones back because of their list situation,” Wilson said.
“I think that if Liam Jones puts himself back into the draft at the end of this season, Carlton will be asking for compensation,” Wilson added.
“There will be a blue – pardon the pun – because the AFL are sort of suggesting that they probably won’t pay it.”
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