West Coast coach John Worsfold has told the doomsayers to take a holiday, claiming the 15th-placed Eagles will be in a far better position by the time finals arrive in September.
Criticism has flown thick and fast towards West Coast following their 1-4 start to the year, with many punters already writing off their AFL premiership hopes.
But with their horrid injury run now behind them, and a soft draw to come over the next six weeks, West Coast are well placed to launch a major charge up the table.
Ruckman Nic Naitanui, former Magpie Sharrod Wellingham, wingman Matt Rosa, veteran Andrew Embley and defender Adam Selwood will return either this week or next, giving the Eagles a vital boost in star power.
Worsfold hasn’t given up hope of snaring a top-four finish, and said internal expectations remained high despite the poor start to the season.
“That hasn’t really changed other than the nervousness of the current situation,” Worsfold said.
“The doomsayers say ‘well that’s it, the season is done and dusted, you might as well wipe it’.
“Our view is there is a lot of footy to play and we’re pretty excited about what we can achieve.
“We’ll cop the criticism and we’ll cop the advice.
“We would love to finish in the top four. Our aim at the moment, our short-term focus, is on building to play our best footy and win the immediate games and see what unfolds from there.
“But as the season goes along anything is possible in terms of ladder positions.
“It’s hard to predict what the top eight will look like at the end of the season. So we want to influence that in a big way.”
When asked what message he had for the doomsayers, Worsfold replied: “Go on holidays. Come back in September and things might be better.
“We’ve got the opportunity over the next 17 weeks to set ourselves up for an assault on finals football.
“We as a club aren’t satisfied with what we’ve achieved so far this year. But we’re very strongly focused on what we want to achieve this year and we’ll keep striving to work towards that.”
Star ruckman Naitanui has finally recovered from off-season groin surgery and is a chance to make his return in Sunday’s home clash with the Western Bulldogs.
Worsfold said he would weigh up how many minutes Naitanui could play before deciding whether to recall the All-Australian.
Wellingham, who starred in the WAFL last week in his first match back from an ankle injury, is a strong chance to play against the Bulldogs, while Rosa is also in line for a recall after two hit-outs for East Perth.
Selwood (back) and Embley (foot) will also be considered, and midfielder Matt Priddis (concussed) will be further assessed later in the week.
Star Eagles midfielder Daniel Kerr said the players were desperate to atone for last week’s loss to Port Adelaide, when West Coast blew a 41-point lead on the back of horrible goalkicking.
