West Coast’s Rebuild: A Step Back or a Strategic Move?
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has made it clear that the team’s 11-point loss to an injury-ridden Richmond isn’t a disaster, despite the significant implications for their ongoing rebuild. The coach defended his decision to recall experienced players like Tom Cole and Matt Owies in place of younger talents, emphasizing the importance of balancing youth with experience.
The Tigers arrived in Perth on a 12-match losing streak and with a daunting 17-player injury list, yet they managed to pull off a surprising 15.9 (99) to 13.10 (88) victory on enemy territory. This win has sparked discussions about the long-term challenges West Coast faces as they attempt to rebuild their team.
Over the past five weeks, the Eagles have faced several setbacks, including heavy losses to Sydney (128 points), Geelong (46), Fremantle (56), St Kilda (101), and even the struggling Richmond side (11). These results have raised concerns about how long the rebuild will take.
Before the match against Richmond, McQualter made a controversial decision to drop 2024 first-round draft pick Bo Allan and bring back veterans Owies and Cole. While Owies managed to kick a goal from seven disposals in the first quarter, he only had five more touches for the rest of the game. Cole, who twisted his knee early but played on, finished with just seven disposals and 14m gained, failing to record a single tackle.
McQualter stood by his selection choices, pointing out that the Eagles have suffered significant losses over the past 18 months due to relying too heavily on young players. He emphasized the need to avoid exposing all young players at once, as it could lead to poor performance.
“We’ve got to make sure that we never cut it too deep and go too young, which we have a little bit this year already,” McQualter said. “So the risk is, if we expose all of our young players at once and just throw them in the same team together, it doesn’t work. We’re not going to do that.”
The Eagles (2-6) currently have a percentage of 59.3 – the worst in the competition – and their loss to Richmond (1-7) has put them at risk of collecting a third wooden spoon in four years. However, McQualter believes there have been important strides made this season and stressed the importance of not overreacting to the loss against Richmond.
“This is a disappointing outcome, but we’re not going to catastrophise it,” McQualter said. “It’s not the end of the world. We’ll butter up, we’ll get to work, and we’ll keep trying to improve. We’re incredibly clear on our plan and what we’re doing and the path we’re on. We will have blips over the next little period of time. There’s no question about that … (but) it’ll be worth it.”
West Coast currently has the youngest and least experienced squad in the AFL. Against Richmond, they fielded eight players with 20 games or less to their name, including three first-year players. McQualter acknowledged that he will need to give his emerging stars a break at some point to prevent them from becoming too fatigued.
- The decision to recall veteran players was aimed at providing stability during a challenging period.
- McQualter emphasized the importance of avoiding over-reliance on young talent.
- Despite recent setbacks, the coach remains confident in the team’s long-term plan.
- The Eagles’ young squad has shown promise but requires careful management to avoid burnout.
