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AFLW 2022: West Coast’s Friday night clash against St Kilda postponed amid COVID concerns

Headshot of Eliza Reilly
Eliza ReillyThe West Australian
The Eagles won’t get the chance to face the Saints this week.
Camera IconThe Eagles won’t get the chance to face the Saints this week. Credit: Gary Day/AFL Photos

West Coast’s Friday night clash against St Kilda has been postponed due to the Eagles’ COVID outbreak.

The Eagles were unable to meet the minimum team requirements of 16 primary listed players and five top-up players as per the AFLW COVID Match Rescheduling Guidelines.

Several players and staff remain in isolation after testing positive to COVID while the Eagles have also hit by a suspension to defender Evie Gooch and other injury concerns.

The AFL had already condensed West Coast’s schedule in the hope of banking results and achieving further flexibility after the WA government reneged on reopening the border.

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The match had shaped as an opportunity for both the winless Eagles and Saints to register their first victory of the season.

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West Coast’s community and game development manager Richard O’Connell said players and staff were in good spirits.

“Collectively we are disappointed not to be able to take the field and show our supporters how hard we have been working to learn from our past games, but player/staff health and wellbeing remains our key priority,” he said.

“We thank St Kilda for their understanding regarding the postponement, and look forward to playing them when the AFL reschedule our match.”

The AFL have committed to rescheduling the match.

“The health and safety of the Eagles program, the AFLW competition and the wider community remains paramount,”AFL General Manager Competition Management Laura Kane said.

“While the ongoing pandemic continues to impact and challenge our competition and our community, we remain absolutely committed to progressing the season as safely as possible.

“Together with the AFLPA, we have and will continue to work closely with teams impacted in Round Four and will confirm alternative arrangements for those teams as soon as they’re finalised.”

West Coast’s additional match against Collingwood on Tuesday is also in some doubt.

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