West Coast's players and staff are excited to get stuck into a condensed fixture of four games across the next two-and-a-bit weeks in Queensland
The Eagles have flown the nest and coach Adam Simpson says the players can’t wait to take on the challenge of playing four games in 15 days.
West Coast’s players, some families and staff bid farewell to Mineral Resources Park on Tuesday morning, bound for their second stint in Queensland.
This time the travelling part will be staying at Sanctuary Cove, about 20 minutes north of Metricon Stadium and 45 minutes south of the Gabba – where the Eagles will split the next four matches against Richmond, Essendon, Western Bulldogs and St Kilda.
“I drove past there (Sanctuary Cove) last time I was there and it looked pretty good. We can’t wait to get there, to be honest,” Simpson told Channel Seven.
“Different feeling, different fixture with the condensed games.
“The quicker we get there the quicker we can play.
“Our players are really looking forward to it.”
Only four players didn’t travel with the squad to the Gold Coast, including two-time John Worsfold medallist Elliot Yeo who is on the mend after two matches on the sidelines resting his sore groin.
“He’s recovering really well. I think our plan was to rest him for at least one-to-two weeks and then rebuild in that same phase,” Simpson said.
“That’s four weeks of football, he’s into his second or third week now. He won’t be available this week or next week either.
“We’re hoping to get a game in before the end of the season but we’ll see how he pulls up. It’s all been pointing in the right direction at the moment.
“It’s more when he gets up and about and starts moving around if that feeling is gone or not, that’s the next test for him.”
See the pictures as West Coast departed Mineral Resources Park below: