West Coast vice-captain Scott Selwood admits a host of players need to break out of their form slump if the team is to turn around its flagging AFL season.

The Eagles were touted as a possible top-four contender after winning their opening three games.

But after a four-game losing streak the Eagles have tumbled from first to ninth, with their inaccuracy in front of goal costing them dearly during that period.

Premiership midfielder Sharrod Wellingham and goalsneak Josh Hill have already been dropped back to the WAFL due to poor form, while ruckman Nic Naitanui has come under heavy criticism for not living up to his potential.

Selwood said the blame should be spread wider than just a few players.

“Nic’s copping the brunt of it, but there’s a number of boys who feel as though they’re not playing to the best of their abilities,” Selwood said ahead of Sunday’s clash against GWS at Patersons Stadium.

“As a group we’ve probably been a little bit below par on our expectations.

“We expect to play really good footy each week. That’s what we demand from each other.

“If we don’t, we know how much it can affect us and hurt us, and the last four weeks it has.

“We’re aiming to get back to our peak form as soon as possible.”

Forward Mark LeCras (arm) and rebounding defender Xavier Ellis (calf) are a chance to return this week.

But given their importance to the side, West Coast may opt to give them more time to recover by bringing them back after next week’s bye.

The Eagles are desperately missing LeCras, who is one of the team’s most accurate goalkickers.

West Coast booted 1.8 during the second quarter against the Dockers, continuing a theme of the goalkicking wobbles that plagued them for most of last year.

Selwood hopes their inaccuracy will soon be fixed.

And he said the team also needed to get better at stopping opposition run-ons, with Port Adelaide, Carlton and Fremantle all making fast starts against the Eagles in recent weeks.