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AAP
AAP
Sport
Shayne Hope

St Kilda set for AFL quarantine in Perth

St Kilda players are bracing themselves for life in a Western Australian bubble. (AAP)

St Kilda expect to spend most of next week in quarantine in Perth during the build-up to their crucial AFL clash with West Coast at Optus Stadium.

The Saints are preparing to leave Melbourne on Saturday night or Sunday, after taking on Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium in round 18.

They will spend the week under similar Western Australia state government restrictions to those imposed on the Western Bulldogs late last month.

St Kilda coach Brett Ratten said on Friday the club is preparing to take on the Eagles on July 24, as currently planned in the round 19 fixture.

Finer details around the Saints' schedule are still to be worked out, but they expect to stay at Joondalup Resort and be allowed out for training purposes under strict protocols.

"It looks like we'll head out probably after the (Port Adelaide) game over to Perth," Ratten said.

"We're still just finding out the details with that, can we get out on Saturday or on the Sunday, we'll just wait and see.

"We'll be heading off pretty much straight away and heading over to Perth.

"It's exactly the same (as what the Bulldogs did), same hotel as well."

In June, key Saints pair Seb Ross and Tim Membrey left what was then the team's temporary base in Sydney to return to Melbourne for family reasons.

Star ruckman Paddy Ryder was also granted personal leave early this season and Ratten said St Kilda will continue to support players who choose to put their family first.

"Players are the most important thing at our footy club," Ratten said.

"We allowed Paddy to go home, Tim and Seb went back, and that's fine by us.

"That's their choice and their decision and it's their family, and at our footy club family is first.

"But those boys are coming along (this time) and no one has said they won't, so that's really pleasing."

Geelong left Perth on Friday morning after securing a flight back to Victoria following their 69-point hammering of Fremantle.

The Cats are due to take on Richmond in round 19, with the Tigers to return home from Queensland after Friday night's rescheduled clash with Brisbane at Metricon Stadium.

There is still some uncertainty surrounding the timing of matches on Saturday, a little more than 24 hours from the planned bounce down of the three fixtures.

As of Friday morning, the Gold Coast-Western Bulldogs, Melbourne-Hawthorn and St Kilda-Port Adelaide games are all subject to change as the AFL juggles broadcast and travel commitments.

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