AFL Covid news: Western Bulldogs forced into quarantine ahead of clash with Port Adelaide

Western Bulldogs players will be forced into quarantine ahead of their Port blockbuster — and some could may have to leave their families under the strict measures.

The Dogs face strict quarantine measures ahead of their clash with Port. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

Western Bulldogs players and coaches have been told they must prepare for their season-defining battle against Port Adelaide in strict quarantine conditions.

It can be revealed that as of Tuesday night they will be ordered into isolation either at home or, if their entire household cannot bunker down with them, in a Melbourne hotel that will be funded by the AFL.

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The Dogs face strict quarantine measures ahead of their clash with Port. Picture: AFL Photos/Getty Images

They will only be allowed outside to train at Whitten Oval as part of the protocols which will ensure state governments and South Australian health officials sign off on the round 23 clash going ahead at Marvel Stadium.

Metropolitan Melbourne’s ongoing lockdown means the regulations enforced on the Bulldogs won’t be too much more extreme than those already governing Victorians.

But the Dogs have already had Josh Dunkley and Ryan Gardner ruled ineligible to play due to government regulations in recent games, with the desperately unlucky Dunkley forced into quarantine after visiting a Tier 2 exposure site in Kew.

The Dogs must knock off Port on Friday night to secure the double chance, having occupied a place in the top two since round 3.

They were ladder leaders after round 20, but consecutive losses to Essendon and Hawthorn, compounded by the crushing loss of Josh Bruce to an ACL in the dying seconds last week, have stalled their momentum on the eve of September.

Jamarra Ugle-Hagan was rested against the Hawks while reprogrammed key defenders Josh Schache and Gardner are also in line to return against the Power.

But the major selection question centres around whether the Bulldogs alter their structure by selecting a second ruckman.

Rolling the dice on Jordon Sweet would allow Tim English to play predominantly forward, helping fill the hole left by Bruce.

But injury-prone big man Stefan Martin is no certainty to make it back from a groin injury for the first week of the finals, particularly if the AFL cancels next week’s bye.

The Dogs’ spine looked its strongest when Martin was fit and firing at the start of the season.

But the 34-year-old recruit has played just one game since April, when he was substituted off at halftime with a shoulder injury.

Bulldog Ryan Gardner was denied entry to Tasmania.

Dog barred from Tassie over Covid border issue

Western Bulldogs defender Ryan Gardner was kept out of Saturday’s clash with Hawthorn in Launceston after attending a Tier 2 exposure site last week.

Gardner was sidelined with a shoulder injury but was in the mix to return this week before being told he wouldn’t be allowed to enter Tasmania because of Covid-19 border rules.

The Bulldogs were told on Thursday, prior to selection, that the 24-year-old wouldn’t be able to make the trip.

Gardner immediately had a coronavirus test and went into isolation when he found out about the Tier 2 classification, but returned a negative result and has been training ever since.

He would have been able to play this weekend if the match was in Victoria.

Tasmania is one of the stricter states on people who have been at exposure sites, similar to Queensland, and won’t let anyone travel there in the 14 days afterwards.

It’s the second time in the past month a Dogs footballer has been caught up in this type of situation.

Star midfielder Josh Dunkley was forced to complete a period in home quarantine after attending a local cafe, which was later declared a Tier 1 exposure site.

He sat out the Dogs’ top-of-the-table Round 19 match with Melbourne as a result.

Coach Luke Beveridge revealed Gardner’s predicament on Saturday.

“Gardy unfortunately was on the end of a 14-day Tier 2 exposure (site), so we couldn’t consider him,” Beveridge said.

“He wasn’t allowed into Tasmania, believe it or not.”

Originally published as AFL Covid news: Western Bulldogs forced into quarantine ahead of clash with Port Adelaide