A “small handful of players” will potentially have to stand down from football under the AFL’s new vaccine mandate, which says AFL and AFLW players and staff cannot take part in the competitions unless they are fully vaccinated.

Players and staff based in Victoria will need to have the double vaccination dose on November 26, a date mandated by the Victorian government for all authorised workers.

The remainder of AFLW players and staff and AFL players and staff based in NSW will need to be fully vaccinated by December 17 with the AFLW competition to start on January 6.

AFL players and staff based in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia will need to be fully vaccinated by February 18.

If a player decides not to be vaccinated, clubs can either place them on their inactive list, keep them on their list, but they will not be able to play or train, or terminate their contract if the player agrees. Clubs may be able to terminate a player’s contract after May 18 if they remain unvaccinated.

AFL football executive Andrew Dillon said he expected most players would be fully vaccinated by the deadlines. but a small number of players were anti-vaccination and not medically exempt and therefore potentially affected by the policy.

“At the moment we are collating the information but I am very sure the vast majority of players are already vaccinated or intending to be vaccinated so I think we are talking about a small handful of players and we will continue to work with those players and provide them with education and health advice,” Dillon said.

“It’s really hard to get into specifics but I think by the time we get to the end of it and there are different dates by which players need to be vaccinated, but I think ongoing education and advice I am sure it will be a small number.

“We have worked really closely with the AFLPA on the four options any player that doesn’t end up getting vaccinated there will be an individual circumstance they will be dealing with so it will be up to that club and that player to work with the AFL and the AFLPA as to what is the right outcome for that player.“

A player placed on an inactive list because they are not fully vaccinated can be replaced but will receive 25 percent of their pay if an AFLW player or the minimum base salary if an AFL player. An unvaccinated player retained on the list will be paid not less than 25 percent if an AFLW player or 25 percent of the minimum salary if an AFL player.