In-form defender Liam Duggan believes West Coast’s squad mentality will be pivotal as the condensed season unfolds, with the Eagles a chance to cop shorter breaks between games towards the back end of the campaign.
West Coast was spared any four or five-day breaks when the AFL announced the next four rounds of matches on Tuesday, thanks to a bye in round 10.
The shortest break the Eagles will deal with is six days between their Collingwood clash this Sunday before facing Geelong, also at Optus Stadium, the following Saturday.
“It’s nice to know now at least for the next few weeks and we’ve got some reasonable breaks between our games which we’re obviously really grateful for,” Duggan said.
“We know that maybe later in the season we’ll have to deal with some shorter breaks, but it’s going to be exciting to watch, exciting for the fans 19 days straight of footy.
“I think across the League it’s going to look a little bit more like that the list mentality will come right into it.
“Historically, some of the older blokes mightn’t be able to handle the break as well as some younger blokes.
“If you play 30 blokes a year usually, you might be leaning on 35, 40 even. You’ll need everyone involved and everyone on their toes, especially with these condensed breaks coming up.”
The Eagles have already used 30 players this season, partly in a bid to find the right chemistry after three-straight losses in Queensland to restart the season.
West Coast has bounced back with three victories in a row, feeding off the youth and enthusiasm of the likes of Oscar Allen, Jarrod Cameron and Jake Waterman up front, plus Tom Cole and Jackson Nelson in defence.
Nelson is coming off a career-high 23 touches in the RAC Derby victory, impressing Duggan with his work.
“Jacko is in great form. It’s pleasing to see. Obviously 'Jetts' (Lewis Jetta) has come out of the side, which is unfortunate for Jetts, but Jacko has taken his opportunity with both hands,” Duggan said.
“He’s playing some really good footy, he’s improved plenty on his game, he’s getting plenty of the ball at the moment.
“It’s great for Jacko and I suppose that’s the strength of the side at the moment is making it hard for blokes to push back in.
“It’s a good problem to have and it drives those blokes not in the team to keep doing their best to get back in.
“Jacko’s form, super happy for him, he’s really come on and taken over that backline at the moment, it’s hard to get a kick with him around, he’s getting them all, so he’s doing really well.”
After leaking 90, 74 and 89 points in defeats to Gold Coast, Brisbane and Port Adelaide, the Eagles have tightened up their team defence and lifted their pressure rating significantly.
Over the past three weeks they have only conceded 109 points combined to Sydney, the Crows and Dockers, but face a huge task against the red-hot Pies on Sunday afternoon.
“I think our defensive pressure has lifted a lot,” Duggan said.
“We’ve tweaked a couple of things just around the way we defend. It’s not much, but it’s subtle and it’s made quite a difference for us.
“It’s brought a lot of energy to our game that we can hold onto for four quarters now.”
