AFL football manager Brad Scott has stopped short of declaring West Coast and Fremantle will be forced to leave Western Australia if mounting COVID-19 cases affect their fixtures this season.
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However, the option to temporarily move out of the state, which has had a surge in positive cases since its border rules were relaxed, could be available to the two clubs if they feel it will help them keep their primary playing lists healthy.
West Coast are facing the distinct possibility of having to call on top-up players in round one, with a long injury list and enforced isolation periods ravaging their playing stocks.
Star midfielder Tim Kelly, who has tested positive, and premiership forward Liam Ryan are both unavailable for the Eagles' meeting with Gold Coast on Sunday because of COVID-19 protocols.
"It's concerning but we're as well prepared as we possibly can be," Scott told Fox Footy.
"We're strong on the fact that the fixture is going to go ahead as fixtured but we know we're not through this pandemic as yet, so we needed contingencies in place.
"Hopefully West Coast don't need to draw on that but it's in place if they need to."
The WA clubs are expected to be hit hardest by positive cases and the league's health and safety protocols this season because their squads have largely been unaffected until now.
Scott indicated the door is open for West Coast and Fremantle to move to temporary bases interstate at some stage.
"Whether they're asked to leave or whether they choose to do that of their own accord ... again, Gill (AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan) has made it really clear that the games are going ahead as scheduled," Scott said.
"We've got layer upon layer of contingencies for those clubs and what we want to make sure is that the fans have got certainty.
"When they see their team is scheduled to play round three in Adelaide (for example), it's going to go ahead just as we fixtured it."
Scott admitted the situation facing West Coast ahead of their season opener isn't fair, but also pointed out the competition has been unfair "on a whole lot of measures" during the pandemic.
"They're in a really difficult situation at the moment but the game has prevailed over the last two years and it will again," Scott said.
"The clubs have shown unbelievable resilience to be able to adapt to whatever gets thrown their way."
Each of the 18 AFL clubs were required to submit their lists of 20 top-up players to the league by Monday night.
Australian Associated Press
