Sydney AFL club hit by Covid

The Giants confirmed the latest positive test was unrelated to its women‘s program and came after the club increased testing requirements for staff and players ahead of the restart of pre-season training next Monday.

“The positive test was confirmed after club implemented additional testing requirements for AFL players and staff ahead of their return to pre-season training next Monday,” a club statement on Wednesday said.

“The player will follow NSW Government and AFL health protocols and guidelines.

Every player and staff member associated with the club’s AFLW and AFL programs are fully vaccinated.

The latest positive Covid-19 case comes after Richmond duo Noah Balta and Dion Prestia tested positive over the weekend while there have been numerous other cases in the industry including Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell and throughout various AFLW programs.

ANOTHER AFLW VACCINATION ISSUE

St Kilda AFLW star Georgia Patrikios confirmed she is yet to receive the Covid vaccine, but maintained she is “committed to learning more”.

The club announced Patrikios would be taking personal leave in October after it emerged St Kilda were the only team that had not yet confirmed whether all of its players had received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine.

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The 20-year-old has put rumours to bed by officially announcing her status herself and confirmed she is “unable to complete my duties at the club”.

“I firstly want to thank the St Kilda Football Club, its members and the broader public for the privacy and respect that has been afforded to my family and I over the past few weeks,” Patrikios said in a club statement.

“I’ve been taking some time away from the club to consider my options and dissect my owns feelings about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

“At this time, I remain unvaccinated, however I’m committed to learning more, consulting with additional medical professionals and continuing to discuss this with my family before ultimately making a final decision.

“I recognise that my personal timeline does not align with the AFL mandate and as a result I am currently unable to complete my duties at the club.

“The Saints could not have been more supportive throughout this period, and I thank them all – from Board members, senior club leaders, my coach Nick Dal Santo to my teammates – for their support and patience.

“While I continue to educate and arm myself with as much information as possible to help me make this decision, I ask for continued privacy.”

St Kilda CEO Matt Finnis maintained the club would support Patrikios in her decision-making process but also backed the Victorian government’s vaccination requirements.

“We respect Georgia’s right to take her time in making this decision and she has our support while doing so,” Finnis said.

“However, our Club also fully supports the vaccination requirements of the Victorian Government and the AFL and encourages all of our people and the broader community to get vaccinated.

“The Club has opted to not place Georgia on the inactive list at this time, however we will obviously need to revisit this decision in coming weeks pending Georgia’s position as the commencement of the AFLW season fast approaches.”

Patrikios is widely renowned as one of the top midfielders in the AFLW and has been St Kilda’s best and fairest for two years running.

She was also the Saints’ first-ever AFLW draft pick when they selected her at number five in the 2019 draft.

Patrikios now joins Adelaide star Deni Varnhagen as two players to publicly confirm they are yet to receive a Covid vaccination.

Varnhagen was placed on the inactive list by the Crows after she appeared at a rally in Adelaide against mandating Covid vaccinations for healthcare workers.

Originally published as A member of the men’s AFL program at GWS has tested positive to Covid days after it hit the AFLW program