Bombers dodge a bullet

Health Department says only one player must self-isolate

RELIEVED Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell says strict adherence to AFL protocols and a good dose of luck allowed the Bombers to narrowly avoid disaster following Conor McKenna’s positive COVID-19 test.

Campbell spoke yesterday after a Department of Health and Human Services investigation found fringe forward James Stewart was the only player deemed to have been in close contact with McKenna. Essendon’s match against Melbourne at the MCG last Sunday was postponed when McKenna tested positive for COVID-19 a day earlier.

There were fears several key defensive stars, including Adam Saad, Cale Hooker and Michael Hurley, would be forced to quarantine after they took part in a weights session with the Irishman.

But the DHHS found Stewart, who was McKenna’s wrestling partner during Friday’s main training session, is the only other player required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Stewart, who hasn’t played at AFL level since 2018 and wasn’t picked to play against the Demons, returned a negative result yesterday after the entire playing list was tested at Marvel Stadium on Monday.

“It gives us confidence in the protocols, that the protocols have been adhered to and well-executed,” Campbell said.

“In terms of the overall feeling, it’s somewhat bittersweet because we’ve still got two players who have been clearly impacted by it.

“Particularly for James, who through no fault of his own, finds himself in a position where he’s got to go into quarantine. But if I take myself back to the weekend and working through the enormity and uncertainty of it, it’s somewhat of a relief but bittersweet as well.”

The Bombers provided details of player movements, footage of Friday’s training session, the floorplan of their Tullamarine headquarters and physical distancing measures in place to help the DHHS determine only Stewart needed to quarantine.

Campbell remains unsure where McKenna, who is understood to have attended multiple open house inspections, contracted the virus. The defender faces suspension or a fine if found to have breached the league’s strict protocols.

“The AFL will work through a process to determine whether or not he has breached any protocols and that’s not as clear cut as some people like to think,” Campbell said.