Melbourne premiership star Tom McDonald is strongly against mandatory vaccinations for AFL players, saying the move would be ethically wrong.
As the league finalises its vaccination policy, Richmond also have confirmed an AFLW player has tested positive to COVID-19.
And Adelaide AFLW player Deni Varnhagen, who is a registered nurse, reportedly has told the Crows she is not willing to have a COVID-19 shot.
The AFL is yet to finalise a vaccination policy but the Victorian government’s requirement about a range of workers, including footballers, needing to be vaccinated or have a booking, came into effect last Friday.
“I’m vaccinated and most players would have been, but … it’s ethically wrong to force people to (have) a medical procedure,” McDonald said on Monday.
The key forward said he supports mandatory jabs in sectors such as health and aged care – but not the AFL.
“We’re on track – we would have gotten 90 per cent of the state – and I don’t see why we needed to cause such issues and division by forcing people in many jobs where it’s probably not as necessary,” he said.
McDonald also would play against an unvaccinated opponent.
“No issue at all – that’s why you get vaccinated, to protect yourself. I don’t understand why we need to force other players,” he said.
(Photo by Michael Dodge/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, the Tigers confirmed an AFLW player had returned a positive result after a pre-training rapid antigen test on Saturday, with a subsequent PCR test also positive.
As per AFLW protocols, Saturday’s scheduled training session did not proceed.
But as Richmond also trained last Thursday, all of their AFLW players and staff who attended that session are self-isolating and awaiting health department advice.
“While the person did not enter the facility or mix with people at the club on Saturday, out of an abundance of caution, all other members of the Richmond AFLW bubble were tested over the weekend, with each returning a negative result,” the Tigers said.
The only reported incidence of an AFL or AFLW player returning a positive COVID-19 test was former Essendon player Conor McKenna in June 2020.
Also, Adelaide say they strongly urge people to be vaccinated after Varnhagen, a two-time AFLW premiership player, reportedly told them she is not willing to receive a COVID-19 jab.
A nurse with experience working in ICU wards, Varnhagen has become the first known AFL or AFLW player to refuse the COVID-19 vaccination.
The Crows have issued a statement following multiple reports, but stressed they could not confirm or deny any player’s vaccination status due to medical confidentiality.
“Our club strongly encourages people to be vaccinated against COVID-19,” the statement read.
Most Victorian clubs have confirmed to AAP that their AFLW programs are all compliant with the state government vaccine protocols and players have been cleared to train and play.
There is no similar vaccine requirement in SA, but the state’s healthcare workers need to have at least one jab before November 1.
Varnhagen posted a video on social media on Saturday showing people marching in Adelaide for “freedom of choice”.
The 28-year-old then followed it up with another clip holding a sign that read “health care hero’s (sic) in 2020 … unvaxed unwanted in 2021”.
AFLW chief executive Nicole Livingstone said the league’s priority was to protect players, staff and the community.
“We are still living through a global pandemic, and if anybody … feels like playing a sport during a global pandemic is not for them, then I have to respect that,” she told SEN.
“There’s still a little more time to work through that approach for Deni.”
The AFLW season is due to start on January 6.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
Considering that they hold seats dependant on inner city Melbourne hippies, I'm not surprised.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
Looks like someone else has gone through and reported some of the more egregious lies and conspiracies that were being peddled on this page. Good. That, or the roar finally grew a backbone and took a stance silencing these fools. Doubt that though. They chase clicks and read numbers over principle.
Macca
Roar Rookie
“Personal responsibility Macca, that’s what it is. It’s your job to look after yourself, no-one elses.” If that is your attitude then you shouldn’t have an issue with vaccine mandates – it is the personal responsibility of the teacher to look after themselves and get vaccinated – if the choose to abdicate that responsibility it isn’t up to anyone else to look after them and keep them employed. You can’t have it both ways. “The child is safe” you are basing this statement on our current scientific knowledge of covid – however there has been no long term studies to know what impact in the future is. So if you are accepting that the “child is safe” then we also have to accept the current scientific knowledge that the TEACHER is safe to have a vaccine and any objections otherwise are a nonsense.
Ball Burster
Roar Rookie
See Nature, 596, pp 327-328, 12 August 2021 doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-02187-1
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Cheers.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
Considering the garbage that YOU have allowed to be posted by others on this website, I hardly think you have any moral authority to start calling other people out now, Stirling. Why don't you have a look at what you've allowed Swanee to post on this forum, and then honestly ask yourself whether you have let the website down today. You have let conspiracy theorists and liars absolutely run riot today. For shame.
O M
Roar Rookie
You haven’t understood my previous comment. But anyway, once we hit 80% and we open right up again as a society, I for one would not like to be one of the un-vaxed. Thankfully the anti-vaxers are an ever shrinking percentage of our population. Pity some will die, and possibly their children too, or most likely end up with lifelong health issues and complications, for their selfishness and misguided cause. The real tragedy will be the innocent victims of their selfishness that they kill as a result. You also, sound to me, like a very confused individual. Not going to waste anymore of my time. Good luck!
Stirling Coates
Editor
That's a very silly way of looking at it. The relative doesn't need to just 'take care', they need to seriously compromise their way of life because others refuse to undergo a perfectly safe, short medical procedure for philosophical reasons. The 'freedom of choice' mob are full of it because they only think about their own freedom. When told that their choices can severely impact the freedom of others, the only response you get is a shrug of the shoulders and a 'that's too bad'. It's not about freedom, it's about petty personal inconvenience.
Ball Burster
Roar Rookie
He has been double vaccinated.
Ball Burster
Roar Rookie
Anyone who imagines that MacDonald's is a right wing position should look up The Greens' policy, which is that COVID vaccines be voluntary.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
The child is safe. The relative needs to take care. It's not the teacher's responsibility to look after that relative. Personal responsibility Macca, that's what it is. It's your job to look after yourself, no-one elses.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
As I have said to a couple of Tiges boys over the past few days, the comments about the Tiges are only ever offered in response to their cocky comments (often deriding another team). Keep it civil and that's what it will be.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Much easier for grown adults scared of a needle to do what's simple and right.
O M
Roar Rookie
You”re confusing personal beliefs that do no harm to others with placing the health of yourself, family, neighbours and community as whole at risk. Its plain selfish, simple as that. That you are basically saying that Society exist for the benefit of the individual (by that you mean yourself) shows how selfish you are and all those who won’t get vaccinated.
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
Ah. I might need to create a formal profile and then start reporting half the comments by Murray fosts, Swanee, Jonboy, ARBP etc I don't care they don't want to get vaccinated ir not. That's their decision. But it's a problem when they deliberately spread lies to justify their arguments. The Roar needs to stop being an outlet for people to deliberately lie. These particular lies kill.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
I sort of look at it a different way to you... obviously.... the society exists for the benefit of the individual and those individuals are all on their own journey..... you may not understand them but if that's what you want to do then that's up to you..... To say that I only exist to fit in with what others have chosen to believe in is not the way I look at it......
O M
Roar Rookie
Sure you have a choice. I had some concerns about the AZ vaccine but I did what I believed was the right thing and went ahead and got the jab because I care for myself, my family and the community that I live in. Like I said, if you wish to reap the benefits that go with being a part of this society then you need to also contribute to what’s best for all. If you’re too selfish to do that then remove yourself from it totally because you are just a liability.
Macca
Roar Rookie
“who has the ability to look after themselves” So the child who can’t get vaccinated because of their age and their relative who can’t get vaccinated because of a medical condition have the ability to look after themselves by the child not getting educated. And again it isn’t forcing, the teacher has a choice, but the choice has consequences.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
But you still get to agree or dissagree what goes in your own body…If I was selfish I’d just go along because it’s easier… by saying no to the Vaccine for myself I am just being true to my own thoughts on the subject. You can call me names or say I’m anti social but all that doesn’t change my ideas on the subject. I have quoted sources on these pages and they have been taken down which only vindicates further my standing. The source was a Melbourne Professor with 50 years in the field. Edward J Steele
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Their responsibility is to look after themselves, regardless of what other people do. Forcing someone to put something into their body to suit someone else who has the ability to look after themselves is wrong.