The Western Bulldogs will leave Melbourne on Sunday evening and quarantine in Perth as they prepare for their Round 15 match against West Coast.

The Club has worked closely with the AFL and the Western Australian government over the last few days to determine the best possible outcome for its players and staff, given the complexities of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Bulldogs’ travelling party will initially stay in resort-style accommodation, however they will be required to quarantine within the resort and can only leave to travel to and from training, and the match at Optus Stadium.

The team will return to Melbourne immediately following the match against the Eagles.

The Club is likely to split its playing group for the trip, given the VFL is expected to continue this weekend after it returned from its covid-related hiatus.

“We’re all resolved to the fact that we need to do what we’ve got to do to keep the season going, and to keep, as best we can, the fixture intact,” Bulldogs’ CEO Ameet Bains told SEN.

“It’s been really difficult for the AFL in terms of managing this. Like all of us, they’re reacting to the circumstances that are presented to them, and what that means.

“It’s no-one’s fault.  We just need to react to the ongoing health crisis, and wherever it sparks.”

Bains said the resilience of the group, the coaches and support staff will continue to be tested with the changing circumstances.

“We can’t be blind to some of the growing toll that that’s taking on our people in the industry. Situations like this add to that,” he said.

“(However) our group has been a resilient group all year, and have been really focused and determined on what we think we’re capable of achieving.

“As some of these things have emerged across the year, be it situations like this, be it some injury setbacks, they’ve been able to deal and process what they’ve been confronted with pretty quickly.”