Worsfold dirty at underdog status - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Worsfold dirty at underdog status

By Justin Chadwick 29/04/2010 07:22:26 PM Comments (0)

West Coast will wear the underdogs tag in Sunday's AFL clash with bitter cross-town rivals Fremantle and Eagles coach John Worsfold doesn't like it one bit.

The Dockers are listed as strong $1.38 favourites by TAB Sportsbet while the struggling Eagles, with just one win to their name, are paying $2.90 for the derby.

"It doesn't sit that nicely with us," Worsfold said during a joint press conference with Fremantle coach Mark Harvey on Thursday.

"We don't like being a team that's struggling and not in good form.

"It won't really affect our attitude going into the game, we'll go in flat out.

"They (the players) are not happy with the way they're travelling and they're not happy with some of their performances so they want to turn that around and perform a lot better.

"It's a big game for us."

Worsfold has recalled Quinten Lynch in a bid to fix the team's misfiring forward line, ending the 27-year-old's mysterious four-week exile in the WAFL.

Fremantle have won the past five derbies and are flying high in fourth position on the ladder after a stunning start to the season.

But Harvey dismissed the perception his team should easily account for the Eagles, who can all but kiss their finals aspirations away should they lose and fall to a 1-5 record.

"That's up to you guys who's the underdog and who's fancied because we never treat it that way and I'm sure West Coast aren't," Harvey said.

"Irrespective of ladder (position), in this competition you'll see the changing of the guard in about six rounds.

"You'll see some teams that you think are going to finish in the top four might struggle.

"There will be teams that are down on the ladder at the moment that will rise, so there's no underdog status as far as I'm concerned."

Harvey felt his team were mature enough to rise to the occasion despite their inexperience.

"I got the players to put up on the board how many derbies they've played in ... there are some that haven't played in any," he said.

"Sometimes as coaches you can lose sight of how many games a player has played in certain circumstances so I just wanted to revisit that and have a look.

"Paul Hasleby wrote down 18 and then put four Ross Glendinning Medals (awarded to best on field).

"Both groups will have younger players in the team and it's how the experienced players tutor them through a game like this."

In addition to Lynch's recall, the Eagles have named midfielder Tom Swift in the run-on side, while Eric Mackenzie, Ben McKinley and 18-year-old Brad Sheppard, pick No.7 in last year's national draft, were added to the extended interchange bench.

Error-prone pair Matt Spangher and Bradd Dalziell were dropped.

Fremantle are almost certain to recall Rhys Palmer after a year out with a knee injury, with the midfielder joining Byron Schammer, Dylan Roberton and ruck duo Kepler Bradley and Zac Clarke as additions on the extended bench.

Rookies Clancee Pearce and Jay van Berlo were forced out of the side after Tim Ruffles and Scott Thornton ended their stint on the long-term injury list.

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