Duffield: Eagles’ durability woes make stunning Dogs win an anomaly, not what’s to come

The Eagles shocked the footy world late in 2023 with a win over the Dogs, but what they followed up with last year, and more recently shows it could be an anomaly, writes MARK DUFFIELD.

At West Coast’s recent pre-season media briefing their freshly appointed CEO Don Pyke and equally fresh co-captain Liam Duggan spoke about the significance of one of the upsets of the 2023 season: Their seven point win over the Western Bulldogs in round 23.

When Pyke arrived back at the club he had asked key people and players what had happened that day. Duggan said the players had got together and discussed how the club was under attack and they wanted to make a stand, to offer a performance that stood for something.

It wasn’t just about saving coach Adam Simpson, it was about restoring the club’s reputation. It was a line in the sand. A measure to draw on in the future.

The worry now, in light of the hammering the Eagles took in their first interclub hit out against Fremantle and the injury list the club again has is that performance looks more of an anomaly than a sign of things to come.

The Eagles gave their fans something to cheer for late in 2023. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Eagles wanted a performance that would stand for something looking into the future. But perhaps they got the win because great players drew on resources from the past.

In the AFL there is how well you can play and how often you can play well. One will get people’s attention. But the other determines success and/or failure.

West Coast played very well that day against the Bulldogs. They just don’t play well that often any more. And it all comes down to durability or the lack of it.

If you look at the best players from the win against the Bulldogs, Tim Kelly and Duggan starred midfield and Oscar Allen kicked three goals.

But those efforts were complemented by veteran forward Jamie Cripps who booted five goals. Four time All-Australian Jeremy McGovern was impassable in defence with 22 disposals and nine marks.

Elliot Yeo came off half back and into the midfield and won six clearances. The much maligned Andrew Gaff had 23 disposals and laid six tackles in one of his best games of the year.

On the road against the Bulldogs, who finished ninth, the Eagles were awesome. This was the demonstration of how well they could play.

And then the following week at home against Adelaide who finished tenth, in a game which marked the farewell appearances of captain Luke Shuey and his predecessor and premiership captain Shannon Hurn the Eagles got smacked by 45 points.

Freo were far too good in West Coast’s opening practice match. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

Yeo couldn’t play at all. McGovern played but was sore and his 22 with nine marks from the Bulldogs game became 16 disposals and five marks against the Crows. Cripps’ 17 disposals for five goals became 11 for one goal. Gaff’s 23 disposals and six tackles became 17 and one tackle. This was the demonstration of how often they could play well.

The veteran stars couldn’t back up and perform one week after their line in the sand moment when the AFL demands that you back up and perform almost every week for the best part of six months.

The line in the sand the Eagles must draw is who is durable and who isn’t. Who can back up every week and who can’t.

Because right now, three weeks out from round one, they are again nursing an injury list that has climbed into double figures.

McGovern, who will hopefully play against Adelaide this weekend, had developed groin soreness after two quarters of intra club match simulation and couldn’t play against Fremantle last weekend.

Jack Darling and Jeremy McGovern are both battling injury concerns. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Jack Darling had been dominating an intra club match-sim several weeks ago but then twanged a hamstring. He is hopefully also fit to play this weekend.

Dom Sheed looks a long way off with a foot problem and is training away from the main group. Ditto Liam Ryan, who having pulled a hamstring tendon in one leg in the round three western derby of 2024, tore a tendon in the other leg this pre-season.

And now ruck recruit Matt Flynn has injured a hamstring tendon at, of all places, a captains run on the eve of the match against Fremantle. The one-two ruck punch the Eagles had planned all summer with the improved Bailey Williams starting forward is now on the backburner for the start of the year.

Adam Simpson often talks about synergy and continuity – but these things are impossible with the level of durability the Eagles have at the moment.

The Eagles need to fix it and discard the ones who can no longer back up or another very bleak year lies ahead of them.

Originally published as Duffield: Eagles’ durability woes make stunning Dogs win an anomaly, not what’s to come