West Coast and North Melbourne have been left looking for solutions after a pair of Saturday evening floggings.
Key factors:
West Coast’s 108-point loss to Carlton was their second-worst underneath coach Adam SimpsonEach Simpson and North coach Alastair Clarkson pointed to their membership’s damage checklist in defeatClarkson mentioned North may take inspiration from Melbourne, who turned their membership round from related depths
The Eagles have been overwhelmed by Carlton by 108 factors in Perth on the similar time Melbourne have been beating North by 90 on the MCG.
It was West Coast’s second heaviest defeat underneath coach Adam Simpson, narrowly falling in need of the 109-point loss to Richmond in spherical seven final yr.
West Coast entered the match lacking 10 of their finest 22 gamers, with a lot of them sidelined till the latter phases of the season.
The Eagles received solely two video games final yr, and 2023 is shaping as much as be simply as painful.
Simpson reduce a deflated determine following the loss to Carlton, which despatched his staff plummeting to the underside of the ladder with a 1-6 file and a share of simply 64.3.
“Unacceptable, not adequate, not glad. We must be higher. However we’re conscious of the large image as effectively,” Simpson mentioned.
“I do not assume we would ever say we gave up, however we acquired out-worked.
“We collapsed again on among the issues we have been doing up to now.
“I am not shocked, however the best way the sport blew out I used to be actually dissatisfied.
“We have been hanging in there and preventing for quarters right here and there, and our subsequent objective was to battle for 4 quarters and ship a win. We took a step backwards immediately.”
West Coast confirmed some necessary indicators of enchancment earlier this season, however the glut of accidents have now ruined their marketing campaign.
“We have got 17 gamers unavailable in the intervening time, so the checklist is fairly onerous to guage in the intervening time,” Simpson mentioned.
“There is not lots coming again within the subsequent three or 4 weeks, so we have simply acquired to remain resilient.
“Settle for the criticism, perceive individually and collectively we weren’t adequate tonight, and we acquired overwhelmed by a aspect that was fairly hungry and ruthless.”
In the meantime, North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson mentioned he could be taking inspiration from the Demons aspect that put them to the sword, mentioning Melbourne had endured equally tough years earlier than turning into the premiership menace they’re immediately.
“I reckon they’ve, if not eight, possibly as many as 10 blokes who’re All-Australian high quality,” Clarkson mentioned.
“What we noticed is the hole between one of many higher sides within the competitors and one of many not-so good sides.
“They have been in the identical place as what we’re proper now … the dangling carrot for us is as a result of we all know what their path has been, there’s hope and prospect for us as a footy membership as effectively.”
Accidents are hitting North onerous and Clarkson mentioned their core 10 gamers collectively had been sidelined for most likely half their video games to date this season.
“It is powerful yards, however we’ll roll up the sleeves, get to work,” Clarkson mentioned.
“They seem to be a extremely credentialed aspect and I would be very shocked if they don’t seem to be top-four and difficult severely for the flag.”
Clarkson added that, general, they performed higher than of their earlier two losses, however Melbourne have been simply too gifted for them.
“It did not assist us a lot when it comes to scoreboard distinction, however it helps in giving us some aid that we will management the ball for longer durations,” he mentioned.
ABC/AAP
