Eagles not in AFL crisis, says Worsfold - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Eagles not in AFL crisis, says Worsfold

By Tim Clarke 03/05/2008 11:29:07 AM Comments (0)

He denies West Coast are in crisis, but coach John Worsfold has admitted a dismal first half against Carlton prompted his first doubts about the Eagles players' spirit.

Ranking it as possibly the worst half of football West Coast have dished up since he took over as coach in 2002, Worsfold was left dumbfounded by the two-goal stinker which left the Eagles 48-points down at half time against Chris Judd and his Blues.

And while the home side did mount a comeback to get within seven points in the last term, Brett Ratten's notoriously poor travellers were able to kick away again to eventually win 17.9 (111) to 10.14 (74).

"In the second quarter for sure, it was probably the first time where I've really questioned whether they were prepared to keep the fight up," Worsfold said.

"In the third quarter they played as you would expect a team to go out and play, I don't think they did any more, they just raised the standard to where the minimum should be.

"They have massive run-ons against them and they have not been able to stamp it out. We sent a loose player back in the second quarter to try and stem the flow and they went even quicker."

The Eagles' sixth straight loss is easily the club's worst run under Worsfold, and the second worst in the club history - but the premiership player and coach denied he was feeling the pressure.

"I felt pressure every week in 2006, every week - and we won a premiership. Whether you are winning or losing there is pressure on you to get the best out of yourself," Worsfold said.

Instead, he heaped responsibility on the senior players such as Quinten Lynch, whose dual misses from 20m were symptomatic of the Eagles' troubles.

"That is identical to missing a target in the back 50 and them running into an open goal - you cost our team a goal. Early on we handed Carlton a couple of goals, and at the other end we refused to take our chances," Worsfold said.

"Players have got to show at AFL level that they have got the ability to play the game under all sorts of pressure.

"We need players who can deliver. And if they cannot deliver in these types of games then it is unlikely they will deliver in the big games - but we are going to have make those calls at the right time."

With Dean Cox still sore - despite his 25 possession, 36 hit out performance - Daniel Kerr suspended, and Adam Hunter, Matt Priddis, Mark Le Cras and Shannon Hurn all injured, the Eagles would appear to be in crisis mode. But Worsfold denied that.

"To me a crisis would be where there is no direction given to the players, or the players don't want to go down the direction they have been given to them, or the players dont want to play for the club or the coach," Worsfold said.

"I don't think we are in a crisis."

Worsfold said Cox's fitness and availability for next week's All Star game would be assessed.

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