West Coast coach Adam Simpson admits he doesn’t know what he’s going to get from his team when the Eagles play in Melbourne.
Sunday’s 61-point drubbing by Essendon at Etihad Stadium was West Coast’s third loss in Melbourne this season, the other two coming against Richmond and Hawthorn at the MCG.
Simpson agreed his side’s form on the road this season isn’t indicative of a team capable of winning the flag.
“That’s a fair statement … our good is really good and our bad is really, really bad,” Simpson said on Fox Footy’s On The Couch.
“So finding the balance between those two is our challenge.
“That’s what’s so frustrating about us at the moment – you don’t know what you’re going to get when we travel.”
Despite their travel woes, the Eagles are fourth on the ladder with a 6-3 record after nine rounds.
They return to the sanctuary of their home ground at Domain Stadium this Sunday where they’ll face second-placed Greater Western Sydney.
Simpson promised a savage reaction at the selection table after the upset loss to the Bombers.
When asked on Monday night how many players from that disastrous performance should feel nervous ahead of selection for the clash against the Giants, Simpson quipped “21”.
“The depth of our squad is pretty strong but we’ve got to find a balance … we’ve got to play the kids as well,” he said.
“We can’t get through this season just going back to the tried and true (players), we’ll blood a couple of young players as well.
“There will be changes this week.”
The coach would dearly love to add injured ruckman Nic Naitanui to his on-ball mix.
He said a decision would be made on Naitanui’s possible return from a knee reconstruction later this season after the club’s bye round.
Rob
Guest
Spot on mate - its the beltings causing concerns - team that sits 11th with 2 more losses has a much healthier % because their biggest loss all year has been less than 5 goals
Rob
Guest
Yup and in those years they won there was no probs winning away. A premiership side can win at any ground at any time. This current eagles team cant.
Rob
Guest
Problem is the kids are crap. Nothing good coming through and the current starting 22 are weak both mentally and physically.
Don Freo
Guest
They are sitting in the top 4..Simmo had them in a GF...don't turn like a Cats fan.
Don Freo
Guest
They've won more GFs at the G than they have lost.
Don Freo
Guest
I think you can say that of most teams that win at home. The teams that WC beat at Subi are pretty weak when they travel too. Those that win in the east and lose in the west are the same FTBs but they only have to do it once...twice at the most. WC has to it each fortnight.
Lroy
Guest
Simpson uses the same cliches week in week out...'' we need to learn from this defeat... blah blah blah'' Its been 4 years now, if they havent learnt by now they never will. He should have swung the changes after the Hawthorn game, but he didnt. He made all sorts of threats after the Collingwood game last year... and when push came to shove he wilted. Simpson sounds like a guy who should be running the HR department at at Telstra or Qantas..rather than running a football team. Its time to pay him out and send him on his way. Its not just the fact that they have lost a few times this year, they have been absolutely belted. The Hawthorn flogging should have sent alarm bells ringing, and now this?? Talking up how good the Bombers were just avoids how pathetic the Eagles were. Premiership teams dont get thrashed by mid table teams. The great Eagles sides dropped a few games sure, but they were never embarrassed the way they were on the weekend. Its inconceivable now that the club will extend Simpsons contract, better to let Mitchel take the reins until the end of the year to see if he can bring in some fresh blood and get things done.
Cat
Roar Guru
Call it what you whatever you want, its just semantics, but the Eagles do have a legitimate issue when they play in Melbourne. It's not that they lose, its that they lose so poorly and look like a ten goal worse side. Most sides expect to lose away but not; for example, by 50 points to a side winless for the year and coming off back-to-back 86 point losses. If you think that is just 'picking on the Eagles' it's not. My own team has an issue too, no idea what to call it but its playing poorly against bottom sides. The Cats stink up the ground near every time we play sides not likely to play finals.
Bob
Guest
Flat track bullies is such a stupid tag, only given to the Eagles, who get dished all sorts of nonsense from the press. The same applies to other teams, many teams are having a rollercoaster ride, losing away etc. A few weeks back Richmond were flag favourites, now theyve lost 4? games straight..flat track bullies? whenever the eagles have a good win away, suddenly theyre no longer flat track bullies..you can hear the lazy commentators "well, it looks like the eagles have got rid of their flat track bully tag.." .. two weeks later they lose away from home and - "well, it looks like the eagles are flat track bullies again"..so stupid and lazy and biased, like the vic commentators. one commentator said.."and half of them are from victoria anyway!!!" meanwhile, their patchy performance (like many other teams this season) is absolutely frustrating for a fan!
Slane
Guest
That would be because Vic teams only have to play in WA once a season whereas the Weagles play a few games at the G and will have to play the Grand Final there in September. Can you imagine the Eagles finishing top of the ladder, winninv all their finals before traveling to Melbourne and falling apart in the GF again?
Nineteen
Guest
What do you think Simpson should do to rectify the situation?
rusty
Roar Rookie
Gee they turn on their own pretty quick in WA. Talkback has been a bloodbath this week with people demanding sackings left right and centre. They are 4th for crying out loud.
WA proud
Guest
so why isn't there any continuous daily ramblings of all the mediocre vic teams that don't win in Perth ??? Its always WCE bashing without looking in your own back yard. flat track bullies is a childish statement
gameofmarks
Roar Guru
So finding a balance between really good and really bad, does that mean Simpson wants to be mediocre/average?
Horrie
Guest
West Coast Eagles remain the AFL's flat track bullies, the equivalent of David Warner.