Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Liam Baker, who is also the co-captain of West Coast, backed other West Coast player Liam Duggan, who claimed the premiership defender’s leadership has been important for the younger squad.
With comeback victories over North Melbourne and Port Adelaide, it was believed that the Eagles ‘ days were well and truly over.
However, the club’s recent wooden spoon campaigns, which saw losses to Sydney ( 118 points ), Geelong ( 46 points ), Fremantle ( 56 points ), and St Kilda ( 101 points ) expose their glaring weaknesses, have come to mind.
West Coast has been severely affected by long-term injuries to Deven Robertson (ACL), Jack Graham ( shoulder ), and Brandon Starcevich ( calf ), while key defender Harry Edwards has missed most of the season with a concussion.
Fans are beginning to worry about Duggan’s inconsistent play in the northern newcastle, where his error-riddled performance has caused him to become more troubled this season.
Baker felt Duggan was doing a good career despite the criticism from the outside, and the 29-year-old’s appearance is important to the strengthening club.
” Duggo’s been going alright,” Baker claimed on Wednesday.
He is a fantastic leader in the world. He sets up behind the game to make things easier for blokes like Josh Lindsay. He is a capable head for our needs.
When West Coast hosts winless Richmond (0-7 ) at Optus Stadium on Saturday, they have a great chance to end their four-game losing streak.
When the Tigers arrived in Perth late next year, the Eagles scored a 49-point beating, and Baker, a two-time league win, would love to retaliate.
We were rubbed against our pants at Optus next month, which was disappointing, according to Baker.
” But they have a good part,” he said. They’ve played a lot of sports this year, but the score at the end of the day doesn’t really reflect that.
Edwards will play in the WAFL this trip for the first time since getting concussed earlier in the Round Two win over the Kangaroos, which is welcomed news for West Coast.
The Eagles have been optimistic with Edwards because he also had concussions in the pre-season.
It’s nice to view him out it, Baker said.
” I believe he followed his instructions and checked all the boxes. Therefore, it’d be exciting to see him play WAFL footy this week and to see if he’s eligible for ( senior ) selection in the coming weeks.
