Clubs considered leading premiership contenders adjusting to new reality
The premiership stocks of Richmond, West Coast and Brisbane have dipped alarmingly since the mid-season bye and the clubs are desperate for a form reversal
West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett has described the recent form of the one-time flag fancy as “nothing short of disappointing” in a letter to Eagles members.
With three rounds left in the home-and-away season, West Coast is among clubs initially considered premiership hopefuls whose form has dropped away alarmingly.
The seventh-placed Eagles have managed only two wins in six outings since the mid-season bye, with their place in the finals now in peril.
Brisbane appeared a lock for a top-four finish a month ago but have subsequently lost to St Kilda and Richmond on the Gold Coast and then to Hawthorn in Launceston.
Reigning premiers Richmond have fallen even further in their bid for a premiership hat-trick, with the Tigers form line since the bye akin to that of a wooden spoon contender.
That slur will be put to the test on Saturday when Richmond play the bottom-placed North Melbourne at the MCG in a match they must win to keep their finals hopes alive.
Both Brisbane and the Eagles are in quarantine in Perth – the Lions at a resort in Joondalup and West Coast in their homes – pondering how to turn their seasons around.
West Coast carries an ageing list.
Josh Kennedy, Shannon Hurn, Nic Naitanui and Luke Shuey are all 31 or older. They have not had a first-round draft pick since Jarrod Brander in 2017.
Defender Brad Sheppard said the effort West Coast produced against the Magpies on a day Hurn became the first Eagle to play 300 games was “gut wrenching” and “a bitter pill to swallow.”
Nisbett, when outlining to members the reason why the Eagles will host Melbourne on Monday night in Perth, said decisions about the future of the list will occur at the end of the season.
“The on-field performance of our team has been nothing short of disappointing, as we are all aware,” Nisbett said.
“We don’t shy away from that, and Adam (Simpson) and the coaching team are working with the players to turn around the inconsistency in performance, and get to the root of the issues.
“I’ve said it before – we don’t accept anything less than full effort and commitment and will continue to review and address the areas that might be contributing to our current lapse in form.
“Everyone at the club feels the same frustration and disappointment that you do. We know we’re better than what we’ve been putting out on the field and we need to improve.”
The Lions are two games out of top four with only three matches remaining and play Fremantle, Collingwood and West Coast in the run to the finals.
Brisbane has been jumped in their past three matches and captain Dayne Zorko said the Lions were perplexed and disappointed after the loss to Hawthorn in Launceston.
The injury-enforced absence of Eric Hipwood has coincided with the dip. Joe Daniher’s potency has dropped when positioned closer to goal. But injuries are no excuse, Zorko said.
A meeting of players on Monday focused on shifting the mood, energising the group and ensuring there was a more jovial atmosphere around the club, despite being in quarantine.
“It was just unlike us. Off the back of the last month, we have had some inconsistent performances,” Zorko told RSN 927.
“We haven’t been in a situation before where we have become the hunted. We have normally gone out over the last few years of really being the hunters, and that is a new challenge for our football club, but certainly not one we are going to shy away from.”
As for Richmond, which sit a game outside the eight and play the Giants and Hawthorn in the final round, they have ranked in the bottom four on several measurements since the bye.
An analysis showed Richmond ranked 15th in terms of kicking efficiency, last in terms of points from stoppages, scores from centre bounces and from when they enter attack.
"You really hope they're more realistic internally than what they're trying to say publicly."@matthewlloyd18 and @kanecornes discuss Richmond's woes after losing on Sunday against Fremantle.#9FootyClassified | Watch @Channel9pic.twitter.com/fkhxv82HIO
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) August 2, 2021
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