VOSS FEELS THE STRAIN FOR CLASH WITH THE BULLDOGS

CARLTON has been hit by a Covid scare involving coach Michael Voss that could see him missing next week’s game against the Western Bulldogs.

Voss is reportedly undergoing the AFL’s health and safety protocols. The Blues take on the Western Bulldogs on Thursday and, given Victorian Covid rules, he is unlikely to be available given a week of quarantining.

Voss would need to be in seven days of quarantine but would need a state government ruling depending on when he tested positive.

Clubs have to record negative rapid antigen tests on game day so he would have been negative on Thursday morning.

But a positive test on Friday would mean he could not coach next Thursday. Close contact rules require those in close proximity to isolate until the results of a negative rapid test, with household contacts also having to remain quarantined.

But the definition of a close contact is having spent four hours with a Covid-positive person in a house, accommodation or care facility. It means Carlton’s assistant coaches are likely available for the clash against the Dogs given they did not spend four continuous hours in his presence. Most Carlton players have already had Covid so with some natural immunity the club is well protected.