Versatile forward Oscar Allen says West Coast must dig deep and combat Adelaide’s contested brand of football to get back on the winners’ list this Sunday.
Allen saw signs of increased effort and work rate against North Melbourne and the Eagles are up for the fight to play finals, despite a disappointing series of losses over the past three weeks.
The 22-year-old was wary of the youthful Crows, who pushed West Coast in the home side’s five-goal win at Optus Stadium in round nine.
“They’ve got a really young list, and they’ve got so much talent in that list,” Allen told Sportsday SA.
“You know in probably three or four years when they really continue to develop and grow together - because they’re all young together - they’ll be a really tough side.
“And they are now, they play a contested brand of footy, and when we played them earlier in the year at Optus, they were really on our tails for the whole game.
“It’s been a pretty disappointing last three to four weeks but we understand there’s still six weeks to go and still aiming for finals.
“So we’re going to have to really show up with the right attitude and play our best footy to win.”
This game comes at a critical point in the season with only six games remaining before finals.
Although the Eagles are under scrutiny externally, their destiny remains in their hands with the side currently sitting in seventh spot on the ladder.
“I suppose every game feels like a ‘must win’, but we’re pretty good not looking at the external noise,” Allen said.
“As long as I’ve been at the football club we’ve been a successful side and a lot’s expected from us.
“There obviously is pressure but you can’t get too wrapped up in it.
“It’s your career and you’re the one in control of it, so nobody else can really impact it if you’re focussed on what you want to be focussed on.”
Coming into the Crows clash as a half-forward, Allen also understands his height and leadership may be needed elsewhere on-field depending on key players available.
This year the utility has been named as Nic Naitanui’s second ruck or in the backline after injuries to both tall defenders, Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass.
“To be able to go behind the players as seventh defender, or to pitch in the ruck has always been something that’s really important to me,” Allen said.
“Particularly early in my career, probably helped me get games, at a stage that perhaps a defender was injured, it was a great opportunity for me to put my hand up to stay in the side.
“I think long-term when some of the older boys, ‘JK’ (Josh Kennedy) perhaps retires, hopefully in a long time, but in the future, that key forward position is the spot that is best suited to me.
“I think Josh, left or right foot is so skillful from the boundary line, just helps him to open up the angles, never really having to kick that banana on the outside of his foot.
“He can always kick a snap either left foot or right foot, just to open up the angle nicely.
“Josh has done it for the last 15 years and kicked some of the best goals in our club’s history.”
