Senior coach Adam Simpson says recent RAC Derby history will count for little in Sunday's “high stakes” battle with Fremantle that will shape West Coast's finals mission.
In what looms as the biggest crosstown clash in years, the Eagles will be aiming to consolidate a position inside the top eight by extending their 11-game winning streak over the Dockers.
However, Simpson doubted his players would take any extra confidence from past results into an ‘away’ game at Optus Stadium in front of a majority of Fremantle supporters.
“You could assume that but to be honest I don’t think our players or our coaches live in that space,” Simpson said.
“Every time you play a team it’s a different team, and obviously a different regime with Fremantle in recent times, so how far back do you look?
“We’ll look at round seven’s game (59-point win) and try and work out what we did well and see where the game has changed since then, which it probably has a little bit.
“You look at the history from a strategic point-of-view but not a long-term look, no.”
The Eagles will welcome back three key players – Luke Shuey, Tom Barrass and Liam Ryan – for RAC Derby No.53 but have lost defensive stalwart Shannon Hurn to a hamstring strain.
Liam Duggan is also missing after being a late withdrawal on Monday night with a lingering knee issue that is still being investigated.
Champion goalkicker Josh Kennedy will face a fitness test on his knee on Saturday morning before confirming his spot but is expected to play in a must-win game to keep the team’s finals hopes alive.
“It’s probably not an ‘eight-point game’, it’s a final, really,” Simpson said.
“We understand that and I’m sure 'Longy' (coach Justin Longmuir) and Fremantle understand that as well.
"This is one of the more important derbies we’ve played in for a long period of time.
“It’s high stakes this week.
“I haven’t done the ladder predictor, but I’m assuming we’re going to have to win both games to play finals.
“That’s where my headspace is and that’s obviously our mission.
“That’s why it’s not an eight-point game, it’s a ‘need to win to play finals’ game.”
Despite going down to Melbourne on Monday night by nine points, the Eagles produced some thrilling football in the last 15 minutes to surge from 33 points down.
Simpson will encourage his team to play with that type of freedom in a bid to recapture their damaging best, rather than sharpening their focus on qualifying for the post-season.
“I feel like our players – despite the mixed results this year – they’re professionals and they rock up every week during the week in a way they come to learn, they come to get better,” he said.
“They train as hard as we’ve ever trained. Unfortunately it hasn’t resulted in as many wins as we would’ve liked this year but their attitude is always professional.
“Trying to get their minds right, and maybe free the mind up a little bit, we saw a contrast on the weekend when the game was perhaps out of reach there was a little bit more freedom in their eyes.
“Perhaps that’s what we need, rather than trying to sharpen it, maybe it might need to be a bit looser.”
