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McGovern says Eagles aren't in crisis mode

3 minute read

Back-to-back thrashings have killed off West Coast's top-four hopes, but Jeremy McGovern says it's not time to get the "sledgehammer out and whack blokes".

JEREMY MCGOVERN of the Eagles.
JEREMY MCGOVERN of the Eagles. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

West Coast defender Jeremy McGovern says every player in the team has put their hand up to take responsibility for last week's humiliating loss to Sydney, but insists the club isn't in crisis mode.

The Eagles have been publicly battered since they followed up a home 55-point loss to the Bulldogs with a 92-point shellacking at the hands of the Swans last week.

The defeats have all but killed off West Coast's chances of snaring a top-four berth, making it highly unlikely they'll be a legitimate premiership threat come finals time.

McGovern revealed the player group sat down this week for a heart-to-heart chat in which every player owned up to letting the team down.

"All the boys put their hands up who haven't performed, and everyone did," McGovern said.

"There wasn't one bloke in there who put their hand up and said 'I've been 100 per cent all year'.

"We don't really need to get the sledgehammer out and whack blokes.

"But we sit down and we educate. We talk about it. We own up to it. That was probably the first thing."

McGovern said there was still plenty of belief within the squad and not all was lost given West Coast are still inside the top eight.

"It's definitely not crisis talks or alarm bells going off completely," McGovern said.

"But we had to have a few chats to a few boys and we all had to look at each other individually.

"I'm obviously a leader of the footy club as well, so I'll put my hand up. I've had efforts and parts in games that I haven't contributed."

West Coast will be aiming to rebound when they take on wooden spoon favourites North Melbourne at Optus Stadium on Monday night.

McGovern said rather than make wholesale changes to the game plan, the playing group is determined to display a better work rate and also speed up their ball movement.

"It's pretty hard to fully reinvent your game plan at this part of the year," he said.

"We've had to tweak a few things, look at a few things. But it's not reinvent the whole wheel."

The Eagles will be boosted by the return of Andrew Gaff (thumb) and Liam Ryan (suspension).

But defender Alex Witherden appears set for another long stint on the sidelines after his groin injury flared up.

Witherden missed almost two months earlier this season with what the club thought was the early stages of osteitis pubis, and the issue will be investigated further before a timeline is set on his return.

Midfielder Jack Redden is set to miss two to three weeks with a minor leg fracture, while forward Jamaine Jones (syndesmosis) has been ruled out for six weeks.

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