West Coast assistant coach Scott Burns has praised Andrew Embley for his role in Saturday night’s victory over the Crows in Adelaide.

The veteran was substituted into the match during the fourth quarter to great effect and Burns told Perth radio station 6PR that he would not rule out the possibility of Embley donning the green vest again.

“Every coaching panel is looking for that perfect substitute player,” Burns said.

“The thing with Andrew is that he is 6’3, so he can actually fill quite a few holes if something unforeseen happens during a game of football.

“His strength, as it always has been throughout his entire career, is to find the football, run, and carry and kick goals.

“He was massive for us in winning that game on Saturday night.”

The assistant coach said he and the rest of the Eagles coaching panel were buoyed by the fight back shown in dying minutes of the six-point victory over Adelaide on Saturday night and believes that the performance can act as the perfect building block for this weekend’s Carlton Mid Derby.

Burns heaped praise on youngsters Bradd Dalziell and Mark Hutchings, as well as Embley, for their valiant, match-winning efforts at AAMI Stadium.

“I thought we played reasonably solid football throughout,” said Burns.

“To go into three-quarter-time up was a really good sign.

“Then to fight back and kick the last three goals in the last five or six minutes interstate was a really good effort.

“I thought the way we showed a bit of composure at times was good.

“Some of the guys that haven’t played a lot of football like Hutchings and Dalziell, not panicking with the ball in their hands, as well as Andrew Embley, who hasn’t played a whole heap of footy this year.

“They were really important.”

Despite coming away with the four premiership points, West Coast forward Jack Darling continued his recent struggle to have an impact on the scoreboard.

Burns says that despite the drop in his scoring output, the coaching staff remains happy with what Darling continues to bring to the side.

“We have been pretty happy with what Darling has been doing,” said Burns.

“He is just not seeing the rewards at the moment, but that will come.

“For me, it’s a little bit like Gaff in the midfield there.

“They are both getting checked pretty hard.

“They have just turned 21 as well, so it really says a lot about the standards they have set for themselves.

“We are really happy with what they are doing.”