We’re not soft, says AFL Eagles

West Coast forward Mark LeCras has scoffed at talk the team has a soft underbelly, but admits the players deserved to be roasted in the wake of last week’s capitulation to Adelaide.

The Eagles’ top-four hopes are on thin ice after they conceded the last eight goals of the match in their 29-point home loss to Adelaide.

West Coast failed to even score in the final term – the first time in their history they’ve gone scoreless in a quarter at Domain Stadium.

After the game, Eagles coach Adam Simpson conceded his team weren’t up for the fight and simply “rolled over” in the final term.

LeCras says the players were hurt by that assessment, but it was “spot on” given their lack of effort.

The 1985 Brownlow medallist, Brad Hardie has accused West Coast of having a soft underbelly, especially in away games.

But LeCras disagrees.

“I don’t think so. People get paid to commentate. They can have their opinions, but I disagree,” LeCras said.

“We’re good enough to beat anyone on our day. The thing we need to work on is bringing our best to each game for four quarters.

“The competition is very close at the moment. If you’re off by five or 10 per cent, sides can kick a lot of goals against you.

“The good thing is we’ve got half a year to improve and turn our form around, and hopefully get better.”

Simpson will consider wielding the axe for Saturday’s clash with Brisbane at the Gabba, and LeCras could find himself in the firing line.

LeCras failed to kick a goal from his 12 disposals against the Crows, and he laid just one tackle for the match.

More worrying has been his form on the road, where he has kicked just three goals from five matches.

The 2010 All-Australian admits his form has been up and down, and says he needs to focus on the basics again in a bid to regain his consistency.

With the Eagles having a bye next week, ruckman Nic Naitanui might miss the trip to Brisbane in order to give him two weeks off to recover from his Achilles tendon soreness.

Eric Mackenzie (illness) will return to the side, but defender Sam Butler faces a fight to prove his fitness after injuring his groin just 10 seconds before the first bounce against Adelaide.

West Coast (7-5) face just one top-eight side in their next seven matches, giving them an excellent chance to get their season back on track.

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