Demons Covid crisis: Another Melbourne player joins coach Simon Goodwin in isolation

Melbourne has lost another player less than 24 hours before its clash with Hawthorn as the reigning premier’s outbreak continues to rub out players.

Melbourne premiership forward Alex Neal-Bullen has become the fifth player to enter the AFL’s health and safety protocols this week as the reigning premier’s Covid outbreak shows little sign of abating ahead of Saturday’s twilight clash with Hawthorn.

The undefeated Demons have been seriously challenged this week in trying to contain a cluster that has hit the club in the past week.

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Bayley Fritsch celebrates a goal with Tom Sparrow, Kysaiah Pickett and Luke Jackson last weekend. Fritsch is the only player of the quartet playing this weekend. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Coach Simon Goodwin will be watching from home this weekend after he tested positive to the virus, while Neal-Bullen now joins Luke Jackson, Kysaiah Pickett, Tom Sparrow and Harrison Petty in being ruled out of the Hawks clash in a serious test of the club’s much vaunted depth.

Neal-Bullen has been replaced in the side by Jake Melksham, who comes in from outside the named squad for the clash with Hawthorn.

The Demons have won 13 consecutive matches since late last season but will be tested by the Hawks, despite the return of Jack Viney and Jake Lever, who missed the Anzac Eve clash with Richmond due to Covid.

All players will be tested again before taking on the Hawks.

Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert said recently the club had been planning for such a scenario since before the start of the season, saying they had put in strict rules for their players which goes over and beyond the state government and AFL rules.

Another Dee in isolation as premier’s outbreak spreads

Another Melbourne premiership player has tested positive for Covid as the Demons prepare to have their depth tested against the Hawks on Saturday.

Harrison Petty was on Thursday night revealed as the fourth Demons player to test positive this week, joining coach Simon Goodwin on the sidelines for the clash.

As the club’s Covid crisis deepened, the Demons confirmed on Thursday Petty would miss the match.

He will now join Goodwin, Luke Jackson, Kysaiah Pickett and Tom Sparrow in health and safety protocols for seven days.

Goodwin, Jackson, Pickett and Sparrow tested positive on Wednesday.

Goodwin, Jackson, Pickett and Sparrow tested positive on Wednesday.

This week’s positive tests come after Jack Viney and Jake Lever missed last week’s Anzac Eve clash against Richmond under Covid protocols but are expected to return this round.

All players will be tested again before Friday’s training session.

The Covid outbreak is a blow to the Demons’ hopes of continuing their unbeaten streak as they chase a 14th straight win this round against the Hawks at the MCG.

The premiers have opened the season with six wins and have not been beaten since Round 19 last season.

But this Covid wave will provide a true test of the flag favourite’s depth.

Harrison Petty is the fourth Demon ruled out due to health and safety protocols.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin will miss the club’s clash with Hawthorn.

Earlier, Melbourne chief executive Gary Pert said the club had planned for the event of a Covid outbreak.

“We had scenario-planned before the season started, we knew at some stage these things would happen,” Pert said on SEN.

“It’s been handled very calmly … I think we are still looking very strong for the weekend.

“It’s one of those things, each day the players are testing and you just have your fingers crossed.

“It’s a day to day thing, we knew that this would happen at some stage during the year and you be prepared for it.”

Pert hoped the short-term pain now could prevent any more issues deeper into the season as the Demons push towards back-to-back flags.

“Most of the players in the pre-season and the early parts of the season have already had Covid,” Pert said.

“The players now that have got it are some of the last players and we were very aware that Goody and some of the coaches hadn’t had it.

“So in some ways, while it’s a bit uncomfortable this week, maybe it’s a good thing as we get further into the season that more of the players and coaches are now going through this now.”

Pert said the club had put in place “strict rules” above the league and government protocols since the pre-season to help limit potential spread.

Young ruck star Luke Jackson was one of the first players ruled out.

“We have been very strict the whole pre-season up until this stage, which is why we have still had quite a few of our players not get it until this point,” Pert said.

”Anyone that has symptoms is either at home or not even part of the meetings or interactions with others and that goes for players or staff members.

“We don’t have any non-essential staff within the football program during the week or on game day.

“We have put in place pretty strict rules, way over the top of what the state government or the AFL have put in place and this has really been our first little bit of an outbreak.”

Melbourne captain Max Gawn said it appeared it was the Demons’ “turn” to experience a Covid outbreak after similar waves swept through other clubs, most recently in the west.

“You have seen it with other teams with West Coast and Freo and even a few Melbourne teams have had some players that have gone missing with Covid and it looks like it’s our turn for the next two weeks,” Gawn said.

“We had Viney and Lever last week and a couple of players this week.

“It’s hard to manage but we have done a pretty good job up until now.”