Senior coach Adam Simpson says West Coast “know what’s in front of us” heading to face a red-hot Carlton on the charge towards finals under the roof at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
The Blues have won four on the trot by an average margin of 55 points to storm back into top eight calculations, including a thumping 50-point victory over second-placed Port Adelaide last start.
Led by star skipper Patrick Cripps, midfield sidekick Sam Walsh and Coleman medallist Charlie Curnow, the Blues pose a huge challenge to an Eagles outfit that has struggled away from home in recent matches.
“We played them earlier in the year and they beat us by 100 points and it looks like they’ve changed the way they play,” Simpson said on Thursday.
“It’s a lot more contest and pressure-based and we’ve heard the commentary around that, and the evidence is there.
“The last two weeks in particular, the Fremantle and Port Adelaide games, it’s been pretty honest football. We know what’s in front of us and we’re up for it.”
When the Eagles hosted Carlton in round eight, Curnow bagged a career-best nine goals against four different opponents.
Star defender Jeremy McGovern (delayed concussion) will again be missing when West Coast tackles the Blues on Saturday, leaving the Eagles counting on Tom Barrass - who is expected to play after a heavy landing against Richmond - to handle Curnow’s athletic brilliance.
“He’s obviously an exceptional player. It would’ve been great if we had Barrass and McGovern taking on the Blues, but we won’t,” Simpson said.
“We’ll try and keep it out of the forward line for them.”
Saturday’s match will be an intense experience for West Coast's next generation, such as Elijah Hewett and Ryan Maric, who are yet to play an AFL match in Melbourne.
One of the young Eagles making their way in the competition, Hewett’s dash and dare around the ball has added some excitement to the midfield mix recently, notably in a two-goal effort against St Kilda in round 16.
West Coast’s emerging crop are all showing promising signs, especially at home, with Campbell Chesser, Noah Long, Brady Hough and Jack Williams taking steps forward in recent weeks.
“We’ve been so happy, I think we’ve had eight or nine players 20 or under for several weeks and all of them have developed in a positive way with the exposure and experience,” Simpson said.
“For us, the home form versus the away form is something we’re working through at the moment.
"Our away form is horrendous in the last month and our home form we’ve seen some good patches, albeit we haven’t had a win – I think that’s connected to the youth in the side as well.
“Hewett, I think we can all see the power and speed he’s got, he’s an inside mid who can handle the rigours of the AFL to a certain degree, but he’s 18, so we’ll keep being patient.”
The Eagles will be without young gun Reuben Ginbey (hamstring) in coming matches but are hopeful of regaining two-time Club Champion Elliot Yeo from a hip complaint as soon as next round.
Veteran ruck Nic Naitanui remains in a moon boot after Achilles surgery with a lengthy rehabilitation period ahead, but is still aiming to return to play next season.
“Nothing’s changed in my position, we’ll work through Nic and his recovery in the next month or two,” Simpson said.
“Hopefully he comes back and plays and gets through the recovery and does everything he can to play.
“That’s the plan at the moment. That’s all I’m hoping for.”
