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Bulldogs AFLW players, staff in isolation

3 minute read

A confirmed positive COVID-19 case in the Western Bulldogs' AFLW ranks has forced the entire program into isolation, two months out from the season start.

Western Bulldogs AFLW players and staff have been sent into isolation after a member of the program tested positive to COVID-19.

The club said the individual, who is fully vaccinated, attended training free of symptoms on Thursday but later returned a positive test result.

The individual has not been named.

Saturday's planned training session was cancelled after the club was made aware of the positive case on Friday night.

"(The individual) received a negative result from a rapid antigen test on arrival (at Thursday's training session)," the Bulldogs confirmed in a statement on Saturday.

"PCR COVID tests were also administered at the training session for all staff and players, in line with regular AFL testing protocols, with one test returning a positive result on Friday.

"All other members of the AFLW program received negative results from both their rapid antigen test and PCR test."

Parts of the Bulldogs' training centre were classified as a tier one exposure site.

The club is now waiting on a Victorian Department of Health decision on how long players and staff must isolate, and when training can resume.

The positive case at the Bulldogs follows a similar situation last month at Richmond.

A member of the Tigers' AFLW program returned a positive result from a rapid antigen test before training, forcing that session to be cancelled.

Both the AFL and Victorian government have introduced vaccination mandates for AFL and AFLW players.

Dual Adelaide women's premiership player Deni Varnhagen became the first player moved to the inactive list this week because of her refusal to receive the vaccination.

The sixth season of the AFLW competition will begin on January 6.

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