AFL 2022: Tim Kelly in isolation after four members of family test positive to Covid

Injury-plagued West Coast has suffered another setback with star midfielder Tim Kelly in isolation after four members of his family tested positive to Covid.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA – MAY 16: Jack Darling of the Eagles snaps a kick on goal during the 2021 AFL Round 09 match between the West Coast Eagles and the Adelaide Crows at Optus Stadium on May 16, 2021 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Jack Darling’s return can’t come fast enough with news breaking that West Coast’s Tim Kelly was forced into seven days isolation after four members of his family tested positive to COVID-19.

The West Australian understands Kelly and one of his sons tested negative, but his partner Caitlin Miller, who took to Instagram to reveal the news, as well two of his sons and his sister Priscilla had contracted the virus.

In a late-night post on Instagram, Miller said four out of the six members of the Kelly household were “positive” and used the germ emoji most commonly associated with the pandemic.

Kelly has been forced into seven days mandatory isolation because he is deemed a close contact.

Tim Kelly celebrates a goal against Fremantle during pre-season.

Caitlin Miller’s Instagram post.

He is set to be isolated until at least next Wednesday, leaving him just four days to prepare for the Eagles’ round one clash against Gold Coast at Optus Stadium.

Kelly was at training on Wednesday, but did not join his teammates on the track on Friday at a closed session at Optus Stadium.

He is understood to be training away from the group at his Perth property.

Kelly’s absence could add further pain to an injury-hit West Coast, who will be without forward Oscar Allen (foot), Elliot Yeo (calf), Dom Sheed (syndesmosis), first-round draftee Campbell Chesser (foot) and Jamie Cripps (pectoral).

Captain Luke Shuey (hamstring) and premiership defender Liam Duggan (knee) are also in doubt.

The news comes less than 24 hours after it was revealed Jack Darling had finally met the AFL’s mandatory vaccination policy, opening up a return for the premiership forward.

West Coast has been contacted for comment.

VAX U-TURN HAS STAR ON CUSP OF STUNNING RETURN

Mark Duffield, Ryan Daniels and Eliza Reilly

West Coast forward Jack Darling has been vaccinated and will be eligible to re-join the team for training this weekend.

The West Australian understands that while the paperwork surrounding the vaccine-reluctant star’s return is yet to be finalised, it remains the one hurdle delaying his return.

That hurdle is likely to be cleared at some point on Friday. The news means Darling has satisfied the AFL’s vaccination mandates which require players and staff to be double vaccinated to be allowed to attend the club and participate in training. Darling has not been able to attend West Coast headquarters and has been training alone since the deadline for the first vaccination on January 21.

Stream every match of every round of the 2022 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Jack Darling’s push to return to training still has one major obstacle to be negotiated.

The timing of the breakthrough is significant given the belief the premiership star would have been placed on the inactive list by the end of next week, ruling him out of the 2022 season and slashing his annual wage — estimated at $750,000 — by 75 per cent.

A Round 1 berth against Gold Coast at Optus Stadium next Sunday may be a stretch given the 29-year-old would have to regain some conditioning after a month spent running at local parks, but he would be expected to return in the early weeks of the season.

His manager Colin Young told SEN radio on Wednesday that his client was still away on leave and he and the club were waiting to hear from him.

“I did call him yesterday and left a message and he texted me back ‘all good we’ll touch base soon’,” Young said.

“We’re giving him his time away and hopefully for the football industry we see Jack playing but … I actually don’t know.”

Darling will need match conditioning if given the green light after spending a month running at local parks.

Late last month, Darling’s lawyer Peter Kimpton said his client was hoping to return “in the near future” and reiterated his claims of a work-related injury.

“Jack continues to be under a medical certificate that he has already disclosed back in January,” Kimpton said.

“He is hoping to return to play in the near future.”

West Coast had been planning to cover for Darling’s absence by recruiting former Fremantle forward Hugh Dixon during the Pre-Season Supplementary Selection Period.

Dixon was one of four players added to the Eagles list as an SSP selection. joined by ex-Brisbane midfielder Tom Joyce, delisted Richmond winger Patrick Naish and East Fremantle ruck-forward Luke Strnadica.

The club cleared room on their list for those selections by adding injured first-round draftee Campbell Chesser (foot) and premiership defender Tom Cole (ankle ligament damage) to the inactive list.

Originally published as AFL 2022: Tim Kelly in isolation after four members of family test positive to Covid