Defender Liam Jones is the senior Carlton AFL player who is yet to have his COVID-19 vaccinations.
The Blues are not commenting after it emerged on Tuesday one of their players was holding out against the AFL’s vaccination guidelines.
Under the league’s schedule, AFL players must have had their second shots by November 26, but Jones is not due to officially start his pre-season training until December 6.
Multiple media outlets have named Jones, who has played 161 games for the Western Bulldogs and Carlton.
Adelaide AFLW premiership player Deni Varnhagen, who works as a registered nurse, was last week moved to the Crows’ inactive list due to her anti-vaccination stance.
Speaking on SEN SA, polarising media commentator and former player Kane Cornes was scathing of Jones’ decision.
“I don’t agree with his choice not to be vaccinated; I think in a team sport like AFL, it is all about the team,” Cornes said.
“This is, in some way, putting the individual before the team and hurting his team in their plight to win a premiership.
“He’ll have to wear the ramifications of that, and that is probably finishing his career prematurely, unfortunately.”
Meanwhile, young Hawthorn midfielder Finn Maginness has become the first AFL player to test positive for COVID-19 in almost 18 months.
Maginness was one of two positive cases reported by clubs on Wednesday, with the Blues also confirming a fully vaccinated member of their AFLW program has coronavirus.
Close contacts of Maginness will now isolate for seven days, but all of those players and staff have already returned negative test results.
Hawthorn confirmed all players are fully vaccinated or are scheduled to have their second dose soon.
Maginness attended the club’s Waverley Park facility on Monday but did not have any symptoms until waking up on Tuesday.
“I want to commend Finn for his diligence in getting a test at the first sign of symptoms, informing our club doctor and protecting his teammates and our staff,” Hawthorn chief executive Justin Reeves said.
“As a club we are taking every precaution to ensure the health and wellbeing of our staff and the broader community is maintained.
“Appropriate wellbeing supports have been put in place to support Finn and those who are isolating as a result of this case.”
Maginness has played three games for the Hawks since being taken with pick 29 in the 2019 draft.
He is the son of dual Hawthorn premiership player Scott Maginness.
The 20-year-old is the first known men’s player to test positive for COVID-19 since former Essendon defender Conor McKenna in June 2020.
Hawthorn football boss Rob McCartney labelled Maginness as the “poster boy” for what to do when experiencing coronavirus symptoms.
“We felt it was really important to take a lead on this,” McCartney told SEN.
“Even though it’s cautious in its approach, it’s the right approach … not only for our people, but their family and friends and the broader community.
“Finn was living his life in exactly the way and manner that we should have been.
“It wasn’t like he was attending big events or anything like that … unfortunately somewhere he’s contracted this virus.”
Several AFLW teams have been affected during this pre-season, with the Western Bulldogs isolating due to a member of their program returning a positive result.
The Blues also have a confirmed COVID-19 case, after the affected person conducted a Rapid Antigen test before AFLW training on Tuesday.
They immediately left the club’s headquarters without entering the facilities and undertook a regular test, which came back as positive.
Only one person has been identified as a close contact and has since tested negative, but will still need to isolate for seven days.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Seems you haven't paused to wonder whether Liam Jones is immuno-compromised himself.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
I'd be looking at Kye Declase, who was picked up by the Demons in mid-season as tall defender cover. He was released without playing a game, but with Adam Tomlinson returning from injury the Dees are pretty stacked for tall defenders. He'd be available in the 4th round, otherwise could slip to the rookie draft or else pre-season. I wouldn't write off Jones yet though. Much more to play out.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You identify the problem well. Why would he place greater value on the ideas of emotive rednecks than he would on the advice of Carlton's medics and the nations medics. Next he'll be questioning Vossy's game plans. Career ending unless there is an immediate U turn.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Kane Cornes has a big mouth. He, along with most of the media, is taking an extreme position on what he assumes to be a binary argument. Liam Jones may well be affected by wing-nut anti-vaxx conspiracies, but he could also be immuno-compromised and rightly concerned that he could have an adverse reaction to the vaccine. Sam McClure should never have named the player and Carlton must be considering taking action against him.
Macca
Roar Rookie
They don't have great draft picks - basically only about 25 then 65.
Parklane7835
Roar Rookie
Can Carlton Draft another young Player to replace Liam Jones..
Macca
Roar Rookie
This is really disappointing from Liam. The bloke has access to the best medical specialist the AFL & Carlton can buy and yet he seems to be getting his information from randoms on twitter. I seriously doubt he is asking any questions over the long term health impacts of the jab he gets in game to deal with a roll ankle but has to make a stance on this!! To make matter worse he not only is a critical player in our best 22 he plays a role we have very little depth in which makes his absence an even bigger slap in the face to all his hard working team mates struggling to bring Carlton back to relevance. And if he can't bring himself to get a perfectly safe and potentially lifesaving injection for 40 of his team mates perhaps he could spare a thought for his co-captain currently battling a second bout of cancer who would be severely immuno-compromised and pull his finger out for him!!