Brad Sheppard is calling on every Eagle to lift as West Coast eyes a response to its flat loss to Gold Coast.
The reliable backman was bitterly disappointed after the club resumed its AFL campaign with a 44-point loss to the Suns and said it is up to the players to turn things around.
“We’re here to win games of footy and we didn’t get the job done – simple as that,” Sheppard told Sportsday SA.
“There’s no excuses. Understanding that conditions up here (in Queensland) are a bit different to what they have been in Perth, but we’ve got to adapt quickly because we’ve got another (three) games up here.
“If we dish that stuff up we’re not going to be competitive and we’re going to get touched up.
“The feeling after that game is we need a lift from everyone. I think everyone has got to improve.
“This group is quite a resilient group and we have had our doubters in the past and we have responded, so hoping for the same this weekend.”
The Eagles’ match committee will assess main training on Wednesday night before making selection calls, but will be forced into one change after star defender Jeremy McGovern was rubbed out for a week for striking.
Emerging tall Josh Rotham and veteran Will Schofield, who was an emergency against the Suns, loom as possible replacements.
“Our second side had a bit of a scrimmage against Gold Coast on the weekend and a player who really stood out from that game was Josh Rotham,” Sheppard said.
“He plays a key defensive post … so we’ve got him, we’ve got Will Schofield who was sitting here as an emergency on the weekend.
“There is competition for spots, there’s a few guys knocking the door down, definitely. It keeps the boys honest.”
Sheppard declared Saturday’s clash would be a massive game against last year’s surprise packet Brisbane, with both teams sitting at 1-1.
Last time the teams met was also at the Gabba in round one last season, when West Coast coughed up a 27-point quarter-time lead and went down by 44 points in slippery conditions as the Lions started a charge towards finishing second on the ladder.
Sheppard is a likely candidate to try to shut down dangerous Brisbane livewire Charlie Cameron after his four-goal effort inspired the Lions to a tight 12-point victory over Fremantle.
The 29-year-old said the Eagles were expecting a fierce battle in front of a crowd of up to 2000 fans after the Queensland government relaxed COVID-19 restrictions this week.
“Coming off a great year last year the Lions and they had a good win on the weekend,” Sheppard said.
“It doesn’t get any easier for us up here, but we can’t wait for Saturday.
“I wish we were playing tomorrow, but we’ve got to wait for Saturday night and hopefully it’s a cracker.”
