Melbourne sticks to training plans despite renewed COVID fears

MELBOURNE will not reconfigure its position-based training groups, despite the risk a COVID-19 infection could wipe out an entire line — a fear that has gripped Essendon.

Football boss Josh Mahoney has instead prioritised keeping the virus out of his club by ensuring players and staff follow the AFL’s strict protocols.

Health authorities could order Bomber Conor McKenna’s fellow defenders — Michael Hurley, Cale Hooker, Adam Saad, Jordan Ridley, Marty Gleeson and Matt Guelfi — to also quarantine for 14 days as “close contacts” of the coronavirus patient.

“We went position as well (in our groups),” Mahony said yesterday.

“We felt when you went to mix up the groups, it was really important they trained together as well. It’s always the balance you’re taking when you’re setting up the protocols.

“In the end the No.1 priority is to not have COVID-19 come into your facility.”

The Demons lumped onballers Max Gawn, Jack Viney, Angus Brayshaw, Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver into one starstudded training group.

Likewise at Richmond, midfield coach Adam Kingsley is in charge of Dion Prestia, Trent Cotchin, Jack Graham, Riley Collier-Dawkins and Oleg Markov.

But Port Adelaide followed the AFL advice and mixed up its lines to avoid the Essendon scenario.

“We might be starting with a backline of (Charlie) Dixon, (Todd) Marshall and (Brad) Ebert because we have lost the whole backline (if we didn’t mix them up),” coach Ken Hinkley said.

Players are allowed to mix with teammates outside their group for only one contact session a week.

The Demons are frustrated they enter Sunday’s clash against Geelong having played one game in 98 days after yesterday’s postponement.

But the Dees yesterday hit the MCG for the first time since Round 22 last year for a full-scale intraclub match that started with their best 18 taking on the rest.

“It was pretty competitive,” Gawn said. “Some relatively big names have missed the 22 from this week — Nathan Jones and Michael Hibberd and these sort of guys were trying to get back in.

“It was nice and hot, the umpires had to step in a few times just to tell us to back off and it’s only a practice match.

“Nathan was good out there today, so was Aaron (vandenBerg), so was Harley (Bennell), these guys who are playing that half-forward line.”