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Brad Scott is hopeful Essendon averted disaster by implementing COVID-style protocols after a virus put an unexpected hurdle in the club’s preparations for AFL Clash with Gold Coast.
Scott has been working with a drastically reduced staff this week, but insisted on Thursday that no players will be sidelined by the virus.
It comes as the Bombers (8-2-1) look to extend their unbeaten streak to eight games when they take on the Suns at Heritage Bank Stadium on Sunday.
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“If there’s a silver lining from the COVID era and the centers and the protocols (it’s this), we certainly put our protocols in place very quickly to minimize the risk,” Bombers coach Scott told reporters before practice Thursday.
“All our players are fine but we have a skeleton staff because we kept our staff out.
“Getting the protocols in place was pretty quick and we avoided the crash.”
Essendon’s players have been working in smaller group training sessions this week but were put through what looked like a standard core session in Tullamarine on Thursday.
“We’ve had a bit of a different week in terms of the matches and how we’ve structured them, but it’s actually been really impressive to watch our players adapt to different circumstances,” Scott said.
“It’s also a sign that our players want to do more, not less.”
Essendon’s torrid first half of the season has lifted them into the top two for the first time this far in a campaign since 2013.
They sit second behind leaders Sydney, fueling the hopes of Bombers supporters that their infamous finals win drought dating back to 2004 will end this September.
But Scott still won’t use the “F” word.
“Not the one you think,” he said.
“It sounds boring, but all that stuff (the finals) down the track is going to be the sum total of what we do between now and then.
“We’re just focused on the process that we’re going through, and that process has kept us in good shape up to this point in the year.
“The risk for us is that we take our eyes off what’s important right now and start thinking or even imagining what’s possible.”
Harrison Jones will return from a one-match ban against Gold Coast, with Nate Keddy likely to be ruled out despite an impressive debut in the last-round win over Richmond.
Nick Cox was also completely clean despite being ruled out of the Tigers clash with a hamstring problem.
Scott said Essendon would take a conservative approach to Will Setterfield’s return from a hip injury and was likely to bring him back through the VFL this week, while defender Zach Reid needed more time to build fitness at lower level.
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