Slushy, not critics, help fire up Eagles

West Coast are just one win away from securing a spot in the AFL grand final but there are still plenty of doubters questioning whether they can win the flag.

Jack Redden of West Coast

Jack Redden says he's never doubted what West Coast could achieve. (AAP)

In-form midfielder Jack Redden is confident West Coast can prove the doubters wrong in September, even if it means they have to cop a slushy to the face along the way.

The Eagles are just one win away from securing a spot in the AFL grand final after beating Collingwood by 16 points last week.

They will host either Hawthorn or Melbourne at Optus Stadium on Saturday week.

Despite West Coast's hot form, a large number of critics still doubt whether the Eagles will be able to match Richmond if they meet in the grand final.

The criticism isn't new for West Coast, who have been dealing with the doubters since their 62-point pre-season loss to Fremantle.

The loss of Nic Naitanui (knee) and Andrew Gaff (suspended) for the rest of the season raised further doubts about West Coast's flag hopes, but the team have defied the odds to be right in the premiership mix.

Redden said he never doubted what the group could achieve, even after the pre-season walloping from Fremantle.

"I think a lot of us had stinkers, to be honest, and I was one of them," Redden said of that match.

"It was probably good timing. Since then we've really lifted and played good footy.

"We're just going to keep doing our thing and make sure we prep really well and hopefully prove them (the doubters) wrong."

Redden revealed he copped a slushy to the face during a three-quarter time spray from assistant coach Sam Mitchell last week.

The Eagles trailed Collingwood by 10 points at the time but the midfield group put in a huge last-quarter effort to drag the team over the line.

Redden tallied 10 disposals in the final term, while Elliot Yeo added nine possessions.

"Our work rate was probably a bit off as midfielders and they were probably outworking us to stoppages," Redden said of the first three quarters.

"So (Mitchell) came down pretty fired up and he knocked the cup out of my hand and splashed it all over my face, actually.

"It was a slushy, so frozen Gatorade. It cooled the head down."

West Coast's depth will be put to the test again as they search for a replacement for Brad Sheppard (hamstring).

Veteran Will Schofield is the frontrunner to earn a recall but Jackson Nelson is also in the mix.

Scans will determine the extent of Sheppard's injury.


Share

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world