West Coast star Tim Kelly ruled out of AFL season opener with Covid-19 as Eagles injury crisis grows

West Coast have been dealt a double blow ahead of the upcoming AFL season, with Tim Kelly and Liam Ryan both out of the game against Gold Coast on Sunday.

According to The West Australian, Kelly tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday after returning negative test 24 hours earlier. 

As a result, the star midfielder will now have to remain in isolation for seven days, ruling him out of this West Coast’s season opener against the Suns this weekend.

Kelly was expected to return to training on Wednesday, after quarantining last week after his partner, Caitlin, their three children and a cousin all tested positive for coronavirus.  

Ryan, meanwhile, has again been placed in the AFL’s health and safety protocols and his status remains unclear.

The forward’s second spell in isolation comes less than a month after he first entered the league’s Covid-19 protocols.

Kelly had returned a negative test 24 hours earlier but must now spend a week in isolation

Kelly and Ryan will join a lengthy list of absentees ahead of the Round 1 clash against the Suns, with utility Oscar Allen, defender Tom Cole and forward Jamie Cripps all out.

Star midfield trio Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo and Dom Sheed are also unavailable, as is top draft pick Campbell Chesser.

To compound matters, the 2018 Premiers also lost All-Australian defender Brad Sheppard to an early retirement after he suffered two major concussions last season. 

Speaking on Monday, Eagles coach Adam Simpson confirmed he only had ’25 to 26′ fit players at his disposal and that he would field multiple debutants at Opus Stadium this weekend.

Forward Liam Ryan has also entered the AFL’s health and safety protocols this week

It marks the 25-year-old’s second spell in isolation in less than a month 

‘Whilst we’ve been struck down by injury there’s no doubt, there’s still optimism, there’s still hope, there’s good spirit at the club,’ Simpson said.

‘It’s important we stay resilient.’ 

Meanwhile, star forward Jack Darling, who is nearing return after his vaccination drama has suffered an injury setback. 

Eagles coach Adam Simpson has revealed he only has ’25 to 26′ players fit and available

The 29-year-old hasn’t taken part in any club activity since January, when the Eagles revealed he had failed to meet Covid-19 vaccination requirements after refusing to take up the vaccine.

However, he has since been jabbed and joined up with the rest of his teammates for training, only to sustain a foot injury that could keep him out of action for up to a month.

Darling has scored 437 goals in 11 seasons with the Eagles and was West Coast’s leading goalscorer in three of the last four years.