The Eagles might be under the pump about their form away from home, but they’re back in the west this week and no doubt keen to make amends.
There’s been plenty of focus on the Eagles in the footy world this week, following their shock 61-point loss to Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
West Coast has now lost three successive games at the MCG and Etihad Stadium, which includes defeats to Richmond (round three) and Hawthorn (round five).
Despite the recent interstate losses, the Eagles managed to secure away wins over North Melbourne (round one) and Port Adelaide (round seven).
Eagles coach Adam Simpson said he was at a loss to explain his side's interstate form.
"Our good is really good and our bad is really, really bad," Simpson told Fox Footy.
"Finding the balance between those two is our challenge and that's what's so frustrating about us at the moment is you don't know what you're going to get when you travel.
"I did think we'd gone past that performance on the weekend, but it just shows if you're off that little bit, you're going to get whacked."
But the Eagles’ patchy away form means little to the GIANTS, who have to head to Perth to take on the only side they are yet to defeat in the AFL.
Captain Shannon Hurn expected his side to bounce back hard when they take on the orange and charcoal on Sunday afternoon at Domain Stadium.
“It all starts from today and tomorrow how we train,” he told the media this week.
“Most of the time we’ve reacted pretty well (to a loss); most teams do when they get put under pressure. But you don’t want to have to be put under pressure to react.
“The way you go about things is that you do it well, regardless of whether you win by 10 goals or win by 10 goals. The result shouldn’t effect how you go about things. That’s one of the things I’ve always tried to be big on.
In team news, defender Sharrod Wellingham has been ruled out of the round 10 clash after he fell victim to some friendly fire in the loss to the Bombers, with teammate Fraser McInnes collecting his shin during a tackling contest.
“He’s had a couple of those ankle turns over the last month and this one was a little bit worse than some of the others,” West Coast general manager of football Craig Vozzo said.
“It’s led to an injury that is going to require a bit of time to heal. We’re expecting that it will be a one-to-two week injury. He’s not going to be available to play this week.”
Forward Drew Petrie will be available for selection for the Eagles for potentially his first appearance since round one.
The former Kangaroo returned to the WAFL from a hand injury but was cited by the Match Review Panel for striking during last weekend’s match. However, Petrie was able to accept a reprimand and could return against the GIANTS.
The GIANTS take on West Coast at Domain Stadium in Perth on Sunday, May 28 at 4.40pm EST.
