West Coast midfielder Luke Shuey admits the team lost trust in their game plan this year, and says they must rediscover the faith if they are to challenge for the AFL flag next season.
The Eagles started the year as second favourites for the flag, but won’t even make the finals after falling three wins adrift of eighth spot.
Last Saturday’s 66-point defeat to Geelong was West Coast’s worst performances of the season, with their score of 6.5 (41) their lowest ever at Patersons Stadium.
The Eagles became renowned for their full-ground press on the way to reaching the 2011 preliminary final and last year’s semi-finals.
But that frenzied pressure has dropped off markedly this season, with a raft of injuries to key players not helping their cause.
Shuey, who himself has missed six games this year due to hamstring issues, is confident the team possesses the talent to challenge for next year’s premiership.
But he said it was imperative they buy into coach John Worsfold’s game plan.
“I don’t think there has been a lot of trust on-field amongst the group, just in terms of our game plan,” Shuey said.
“It’s the right game plan – we’ve played really well at some stages this season.
“I think it’s matter of finding out why we have these injuries, getting everyone on the park and then getting everyone to buy into the one game plan and start gelling together.
“It certainly makes a difference playing with guys you haven’t played with a lot.
“You look at Geelong and there is a reason they are probably the best team in the competition – half of their team has played 150 games together.”
Shuey will miss Friday night’s clash with Collingwood at the MCG after experiencing tightness in his troublesome hamstring last week.
Other stars who will be unavailable include Nic Naitanui (groin), Beau Waters (shoulder), Mark LeCras (knee/ribs), Daniel Kerr (knee) and Shannon Hurn (ankle).
Collingwood are still in the hunt for a home elimination final, but will be without injured duo Jamie Elliott (hamstring) and Ben Sinclair (shoulder).