Fremantle’s clash with Port Adelaide is now affected by Victoria’s growing COVID outbreak as Power players and staff are forced to isolate over a post-match flight bungle.

Victorian health authorities have confirmed one of the five new COVID cases in Melbourne attended the MCG for Sunday’s Collingwood and Port Adelaide clash.

Fans who were seated in Zone 4, Level 1, of the Great Southern Stand — where most of the Port fans were sitting — have been directed to get tested and isolate until they return a negative result.

According to SEN’s Sam Edmund, Port Adelaide players and staff then shared a flight from Melbourne to Adelaide with fans who were seated in that same MCG section as the confirmed COVID case.

“Power players and staff have been told to get tested and isolate,” he revealed.

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“Port shared a flight home with fans after the win over Pies at MCG.

“Most clubs using charter flights, but Power have been going commercial.”

Edmund then stressed Port Adelaide did not choose their flight home, stating it was done so “at AFL’s decree”.

“For reasons unknown, Port have been flying commercial for the vast majority of their interstate trips,” he explained.

All Port Adelaide players will need to test negative to COVID before they can resume training ahead of Sunday’s match against the Dockers.

The club confirmed players and staff were getting tested on Wednesday morning.

“Wednesday had already been a scheduled day off for players and football department staff, who will await negative results before returning to training,” a Power spokesperson said.

Already South Australia has followed WA’s lead and bolstered border restrictions with arrivals from Victoria.

The COVID twist comes as three Victorian clubs — Essendon, Hawthorn and Carlton — are all fleeing the State ahead of looming border closures.

Essendon will touch down in Perth early this afternoon ahead of their clash with West Coast and head into immediate isolation until they can produce a negative COVID test result.