West Coast midfielder Jack Graham says his side has plenty to play for this weekend, as they prepare to come up against Adelaide, who currently occupy first on the ladder.
This weekend, the club is set to farewell two retiring premiership heroes, Jeremy McGovern and Dom Sheed, and celebrate club co-captain Liam Duggan’s 200th game.
“The Crows, they’re a ripping side, but it’s another opportunity for us and our younger group to have a crack,” Graham told SportFM.
“It’s our captain’s 200th game and farewell in Sheeda and Gov, so we’ve got plenty to play for.”
It comes off the back of an 83-point thrashing against Melbourne last weekend, which saw West Coast secure its third wooden spoon, sitting with just one win against St Kilda in Round 10.
Last Saturday’s loss left coach Andrew McQualter questioning the side’s toughness and is looking to get something out of a challenging final three-game run against Adelaide, the Western Bulldogs and Sydney.
Graham concedes his team is not up to AFL standard in several key areas.
“The feel amongst the players is we’re not where we want to be, and it’s challenging at the moment. The gap between us and other sides is just too big,” he said.
“At the same time, the games in our younger players and starting to drive the standard and realise that the older boys can do it, but the younger fellas, it’s going to be their club for the year to come.
“For them to gel together and build a strong connection, they’re going to be the next wave and excitement for our fans and getting this football club to get it back to where it is.
“I think just the younger fellas building a connection in a group that’s going to drive us going forward in the couple of years is something that I’m really excited by.”
In recent weeks, West Coast has lacked experience, especially through the middle, but it is set to gain some back, with Graham available for selection following his four-match suspension for using a homophobic slur.
“I’m fit and ready to go,” he told SportFM.
“When the boys would finish up the main session, I did an extra four or five kilometres after training to keep up my match fitness.
“I’m definitely ready to get out there and help the boys and play footy because it’s a lot more enjoyable playing football than getting slogged at training.”
West Coast has the task of stopping a stacked forward boasting the likes of Riley Thilthorpe, Taylor Walker and Darcy Fogarty, who have kicked a combined 118 goals this year.
It will be a tall order for the Eagles as their most experienced key defender, Harry Edwards, looks likely to miss this weekend’s Crows clash with foot soreness.
But down the other end, Graham says West Coast’s forward pressure will need to be dialled up to stop Adelaide’s ‘rock-solid’ defence.
“The Crows are really good in every area. That’s why they’re sitting on top of the ladder and making a charge for finals,” he said.
“I think the ability to stop them in the air. They’ve got three contested beasts up forward, but also down back, they’re rock solid.
“They rely on the intercept marks and then getting the ball going out the other end like a slingshot.
“For us, it’s going to be a challenge for our forwards to bring the ball to the ground. Our smalls are going to have to bring that elite pressure to lock the ball in our forward half.
IMAGE: West Coast Eagles