Complex reasons Vax-hesitant Blue makes 500000 retirement call
Vaccine-hesitant Carlton defender Liam Jones has walked away from up to half a million dollars in his 2022 contract, refusing to elaborate on the personal reasons for his sudden retirement on Sunday.
The Blues had been in talks with Jones for months after he expressed hesitancy about taking the COVID-19 vaccine.
Carlton defender Liam Jones has announced his retirement.Credit:Getty Images
“I wish to announce my retirement from AFL football effective immediately,†Jones said in a statement on Sunday.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank all who have supported me throughout my journey, both personally and professionally. I love the game and I’ll miss my teammates.
“I hope that people respect my decision and privacy â€" neither myself or my management team will be making any further comment on the matter.â€
The AFL last month announced a no jab, no play mandate for the men’s and women’s leagues. At the time, AFL football executive Andrew Dillon anticipated a “small handful of players†would have to stand down under the policy, which says players and staff in Victoria must be fully vaccinated by November 26, by December 17 in NSW and February 18 in Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia.
Clubs may be able to terminate a player’s contract after May 18 if they remain unvaccinated. Before then they can be moved to the inactive list, as happened with Adelaide’s dual AFLW premiership player Deni Varnhagen, who is a registered nurse.
Carlton football boss Brad Lloyd expressed thanks to the 30-year-old Jones for his seven years with the club. Jones arrived at the Blues from the Western Bulldogs where he was a forward before redefining himself as a key defender at the Blues.
“We have been in constant dialogue with Liam in recent months and allowing him the time he needed to make an informed decision regarding his playing career,†Lloyd said.
“Liam confirmed with us today that he has made the decision to retire, and his wish for the specific reasons of that decision to be kept private â€" as a club, we will be respecting that.
“They are complex reasons. He has worked through those ... he was pretty strong in his decision.â€
Lloyd said the club strongly supported the state government and AFL positions on vaccinations and said every Carlton AFL and AFLW player and staff member would be double vaccinated.
He would not go into specifics of any financial settlement with Jones.
“The vaccination rules coming down from the AFL were pretty clear with the inactive list or terminations and so forth but I am not going to go into the specifics in Liam’s case but it’s pretty clear cut for players and player managers,†Lloyd said.
Jones, who was contracted for 2022, had the potential to earn up to $500,000 next year if he achieved all triggers and bonuses. His base salary for the year was more than $400,000.
There is one last list lodgment on Monday, November 29, ahead of the national draft. Jones can be removed from the list then, in which case he would not be included in next year’s playing list or salary cap.
Lloyd said he would consult with the AFL on Monday to clarify the list status for the Blues but it appeared likely he could still be removed from the list and another player added for next year either in the draft, a promoted rookie or as a supplementary selection on the eve of the season.
New coach Michael Voss will now look for alternatives to the stable defensive pairing of the past few years of Jones and Jacob Weitering.
The Blues’ recruitment of Lewis Young from the Western Bulldogs in the off-season could prove more prescient than they imagined at the time with the 22-year-old likely to now step straight in to the vacancy created by Jones’ surprising decision.
Lloyd said the Blues would not necessarily look for a like for like replacement for Jones in either the draft or the supplementary selection with the new list vacancy created by the unexpected retirement.
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