'Disappointed': Channel 9 parts ways with AFL great over vax stance
Channel Nine has confirmed that it has parted ways with sports presenter Warren Tredrea, as a result of the AFL great's Covid-19 vaccination stance.
Tredrea took leave from the TV network in early December, right after the station introduced a nationwide double vaccination mandate for its employers.
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At the time, Channel Nine said it was not looking to replace the Port Adelaide legend at the sports desk.
However, the network released a statement confirming that the four-time All-Australian's long association with Channel Nine had come to an end.
“Nine can confirm Warren Tredrea will not be presenting sport on our Adelaide bulletins into the future. We are disappointed to see Warren leave but we wish him well,” Nine wrote in a statement, as reported by The Advertiser.
Port Adelaide's 2004 premiership-winning captain has described himself as "pro-choice" in the past but says he "can't speak" about the divorce from Channel Nine, presumably due to legal reasons.
In addition to his duties for Channel 9, where he worked since 2013, Tredrea also has numerous football media commitments with the radio station FiveAA.
In an interview for FiveAA back in September, Tredrea said he was yet to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and maintained his belief that it should be a personal choice to do so.
“No I’m not, I’m fully vaccinated … but I’m not Covid vaccinated,” he said.
“Everyone is entitled to do what they want to do because it’s your body.”
Warren Tredrea 'pro-choice' when it comes to vaccinations
Tredrea has previously spoken out against the AFL's vaccine mandate, with players unable to play in either the men's competition or the AFLW unless they are double-vaxxed.
“It’s everyone’s individual situation and choice. So if a player doesn’t want to do it, that’s fine, that’s their decision. You shouldn’t be able to lose your employment.”
Tredrea has expressed his thoughts in the past that it should be “a confidential right” for players not to have to disclose their vaccination status and described any mandate as "discriminatory" against religious groups and others that don't believe in vaccinations.
Speculation about Tredrea's future at Channel Nine began to swirl in December when he did not take his usual place on the sports desk for a news broadcast.
The absence notably came on the day Channel Nine's Covid-19 vaccine mandate came into effect.
The network's mandate is nationwide, with sports journalist Tom Rehn in line to replace Tredrea after filling in for the AFL great on the Adelaide sports desk.
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