West Coast look to turn around fortunes - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

West Coast look to turn around fortunes

By Crystal Ja 16/05/2008 02:15:33 PM Comments (0)

After embarrassing coach John Worsfold in the last-start loss to Carlton, West Coast will be desperate to avoid their second worst-ever losing streak against North Melbourne at Carrara on Saturday.

Much of the pre-match buildup has centred around what is expected to be a very small crowd for the Kangaroos' first home match since they turned down a permanent move to the tourist strip.

But that is of little concern to Eagles' ruckman Dean Cox, with his team currently riding a six-game losing streak - only two short of their worst-ever run of eight straight losses back in 2001, the year Ken judge was sacked as coach to be replaced by Worsfold.

"This season, we've let ourselves down with 15 or 20 minutes of football, letting sides kick four or five, six or eight goals and in this competition it's just too hard to come back," he said.

"We've played good quarters but we just haven't sustained it for the four quarters to get a win."

He said the Eagles had spent the bye weekend for the Hall of Fame tribute match stewing over their 37-point home loss against Carlton, which he said had embarrassed Worsfold.

"We had a second quarter that was disgraceful ... and the playing group were disappointed, but I think he at the time felt, probably a little bit embarrassed," Cox said.

"To dish up what we did in that second quarter, it would have been heartbreaking for him."

In a boost for the side, midfielder Matt Priddis will return from a five-week layoff after a knee injury, while 18-year-old promoted rookie Ryan Davis will get his first run in the seniors.

Cox was anticipating a good ruck contest against North, with he and Mark Seaby set to battle against the rotating trio of Hamish McIntosh, David Hale and Drew Petrie.

The Kangaroos also have some welcome additions to the side, with Josh Gibson named for the first time since round four to bolster their depleted backline.

"I'm pretty injury prone, (I've played) only the 27 games, but now the knee's right, the head's right from the bathroom accident, so hopefully I can stay on the park for a few games in a row," he said.

He said the `Roos were still hopeful of a good turnout at Carrara, despite their decision last year to remain a Melbourne-based club.

"We'll just take it as any other game ... we've played here enough now that we're pretty accustomed to the routine, the flight up and so forth so that should help us out a bit," said Gibson.

"It's pretty important for those guys to support AFL footy to show they want their own team, whoever's playing, so it's important they come out in numbers."

A new Gold Coast team is likely to enter the competition in 2011.

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