Wagga product Colvin confident Demons can overcome COVID challenges

Wagga product Colvin, 30, said the Demons are already feeling the effects with a handful of players struck down by the virus before their season opening 24-point win over Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.

Players have been supplied with rapid antigen tests and the defender gets tested daily as squads do everything in their power to stay healthy.

The potential impacts football seasons could face have been on display in cricket's Big Bash League, with Melbourne Stars forced to recruit a number of grade cricketers to replace players who have tested positive.

AFLW has introducted protocols to deal with the situation. Games will be played if 16 of each club's listed players are available, plus five train-on players.

The Demons made the preliminary finals in Colvin's second AFLW campaign last year, and she's confident the club's depth will have them well placed to avoid any potential outbreak.

"Everybody's kind of in their own little bubble. Everyone's got to make smarter decisions, stay away from crowds and don't do anything that's going to jeopardise our season," she said.

"We're dropping like flies, I'm not going to lie, I think we've got four girls with COVID at the moment.

"You can see with the men's BBL that they're struggling as well. It's going to be a big challenge, at the moment COVID is probably our biggest challenge.

"The way things are going, the club with the least COVID cases might win. It's going to be a struggle for teams to consistently put their best teams on. We've got good depth on our list so we're not too stressed, we just want to be able to put 23 players on paper.

"We actually had a couple of girls come down for train-ons last night (Monday). One flew down from Queensland and back in one day for a training session."

Colvin said testing has become a daily routine, an extra dose of anxiety players will face this year.

We get all our RAT tests supplied to us, I'm currently taking one a day which is so stressful," she said.

"I literally woke up today and thought 'better test myself'. So many people I know have been positive, I'm paranoid and doing one every day."

The Demons landed the prize signature of key forward Tayla Harris from Carlton over the off-season, and also picked up midfielder Olivia Purcell from Geelong.

It means expectations are high they can emulate their men's side's drought-breaking premiership.

"Everybody's putting a bit of pressure on us, everyone wants the double at Melbourne. There's a bit of pressure there but we're loving the buzz around the club."

Entering her third season, Colvin has been asked to take on more responsibility in defence this year, includig moving to fullback.

"I'm one of the more senior players in the backline now. I'm taking up a new position at fullback but I'm loving it down there, you've got the whole game in front of you," she said.

"I've got a bit more responsibility, they've been forcing me to talk on field, get my communication going and get everyone in line.

"I'm a little bit undersized but I try and use my jump and my strength. I've been doing a bit in the gym and trying to get stronger."

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