Vax-hesitant defender Liam Jones remains in dialogue with Blues
Carlton defender Liam Jones is in constant dialogue with the Blues as he remains reluctant to adhere to the AFL’s vaccination policy, which requires all players to be vaccinated to train and play next season.
The 30-year-old has been given all the available information to make his decision and at this stage is holding off getting the jab, but he is not required to return to the club for senior training until December 6.
Carlton defender Liam Jones.Credit:Getty Images
The Blues could then keep him on their list, place him on their inactive list or, eventually, seek to terminate his contract with the club after May 18 if he remained unvaccinated.
Carlton refused to comment on his status, and his manager Shane Casley told The Age he had no comment.
Jones has been a key player for the Blues in recent seasons and will form part of a solid backline under new coach Michael Voss if he chooses to be vaccinated as the club looks to regain a spot in the finals after a massive upheaval at the end of the season.
AFL clubs will be informed before the draft of potential draftees who don’t intend to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.Credit:Joe Armao
The AFL said in October it expected only a handful of players to be directly affected by the vaccination policy.
Meanwhile, the AFL will tell clubs if any draft nominees do not intend to become fully vaccinated for COVID-19 before they make their selections in this year’s national draft, in order to guard against players being added to a list who aren’t eligible to play or train due to the league’s vaccination policy.
Players who have nominated for the draft were told in a letter sent this week that they must inform the league before this Friday, November 12, if they either won’t agree to be vaccinated, or will be applying for a medical exemption.
If a draft nominee does not inform the leaguethat they do not intend to be fully vaccinated, or consider themselves medically exempt and are subsequently drafted, they may be subject to a sanction under AFL rules. The AFL has also offered support and wellbeing advice to any potential draftee who has concerns about the vaccination policy.
Draft nominees who are fully vaccinated, or intend to become fully vaccinated, do not have to inform the AFL of their status, and clubs have been allowed to ask potential draftees whether they had any issues with being vaccinated during their interview process.
With Victoria requiring all authorised workers to be fully vaccinated by November 26, and the national draft occurring on November 24 and 25, the players have been told there is a chance they will not be able to immediately train with their clubs.
Any player drafted to a Victorian club will need to be fully vaccinated to start training immediately after the draft, while those drafted to clubs based in NSW will have until December 17 to be fully vaccinated. Those drafted to clubs based in Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia will have until February 18 to be fully vaccinated.
0 Response to "Vax-hesitant defender Liam Jones remains in dialogue with Blues"
Post a Comment