Fremantle To Mitigate Training Sessions As COVID Impacts Coaches

As COVID cases begin to spread through state-level clubs, Fremantle are taking a precautionary approach to their weekly training schedule to avoid risk.

Senior coach Justin Longmuir, who recently missed a match due to falling under the AFL's health protocols, said Connor Blakely has contracted COVID and will be unavailable for selection.

The club has now split their playing group to minimise the risk of losing more players ahead of Saturday's match against Carlton.

"No we’re not (in the clear). We’ve had to separate the playing group today and you’ll see at training there’s only about 23 players training," Longmuir said.

"That’s mainly based on the back of the WAFL situation, and a lot of our players played at Peel on (Good Friday).

"We’ve split our playing group up to mitigate the risk around those players that played at WAFL level.

"We’ll probably have to do that, especially early in the week for the foreseeable future. It’s not the ideal situation for the camaraderie you’re trying to build at the footy club but we need to mitigate a bit of risk."

Fremantle say Lachie Schultz - who missed last week's match after entering health and safety protocols - is expected to return.

"He’ll have to get through training but it’s pretty positive. I did a little session with him yesterday and he feels back to 100 per cent," coach Longmuir said.

"He’s got to get through training but we expect him to return."