Adelaide AFLW premiership player Deni Varnhagen has reportedly told the club she is not willing to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
According to News Corp, Varnhagen, a dual premiership Crow, is yet to make an informed choice on whether to get the vaccine, becoming the first AFLW player to resist the jab.
AFLW CEO Nicole Livingstone says the league will support Varnhagen and other players who are hesitant about the vaccine.
“We’ve done as much as we can in terms of medical advice with information sessions,” Livingstone told SEN’s Whateley.
“If a player feels like they need more information, then we’re happy to provide that and have those conversations as well.
“But at the end of the day, we are still living through a global pandemic and if anybody – whether it’s AFL, AFLW or any other sport – feels like playing a sport during a global pandemic is not for them, then I have to respect that as well.
“There’s still a little more time to work through that approach for Deni. I don’t know the intimate details of that, but we’ll support the players as much as we can to make an informed choice.”
Will AFLW players need to be vaccinated to participate in the 2022 season?
“We don’t know what it looks like in January, there could be changes,” Livingstone said.
“We now know there’s some changes going on in Victoria with restrictions. It is a bit of a wait and see approach in terms of what the different borders are going to look like and the different state requirements.
“It’s certainly going to make it much easier to be an athlete if you are vaccinated. Again, it’s up to the athletes to make an informed decision.”
The Crows told News Corp in a statement: “Our club strongly encourages people to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
“The club remains committed to following the health advice and guidelines set by the government and the AFL.”