COVID CLOUD OVER CATS CLASH

COVID tests to decide if Geelong-Eagles game is played

THE AFL is sweating on negative COVID tests on Saturday before it can tick off the crucial Geelong and West Coast clash at GMHBA Stadium and continue its season unchecked.

Crowds have already been banned in Perth as the league grapples with the latest coronavirus scare in Western Australia.

And as Victoria shut its border with WA on Friday night, it was reported Eagles supporters who had travelled to Geelong for Saturday’s clash would be barred by Victorian health officials.

Perth was plunged into a three-day lockdown at midnight Friday following news a hotel quarantine breach had led to four positive cases.

The Fremantle and North Melbourne game will go ahead on Saturday night in an empty WA stadium after the AFL was given a special exemption by the WA government.

West Coast Eagles players flew into Melbourne on Thursday and were still anxiously awaiting COVID test results on Friday night before being allowed to take on Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.

The league said on Friday the game would go ahead, but first the players and coaches needed to receive negative tests.

However the Eagles are optimistic they can fly back to Perth on a chartered flight on Saturday night.

“Players and staff, everyone is getting tested,” Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett said.

“Then we will get tested when we get back to Perth and we will start to prepare for the following week.

“We have basically been in lockdown since we have been here. We have been at the hotel. Then we have been to a closed training session, straight back to the hotel.”

The latest COVID scare to affect the AFL overshadowed the long-awaited announcement that boom Cats recruit Jeremy Cameron would play his first official game for Geelong. It has taken until Round 6 to get him in the team after off-season hamstring issues.

But Cameron’s inclusion comes at a crucial time for the Cats, who are set to be without midfielder Patrick Dangerfield for an extended period after he had ankle surgery this week.

Although not a like-for-like replacement, the boost Cameron will provide Geelong is almost immeasurable — his goalkicking prowess will be a welcome addition but he will also offer his new team’s midfielders another avenue to goal besides Tom Hawkins.

Last week’s debutant Sam De Koning made way for Cameron, while Irishman Mark O’Connor returns after missing the win against the Kangaroos.

There are multiple options for O’Connor should he be given a tagging assignment against the Eagles, including former teammate Tim Kelly, who returns to GMHBA Stadium for the first time since being traded two years ago.

West Coast will be without forward Josh Kennedy.