West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says some Eagles are fighting for their careers after Richmond defeat
The Eagles have a dozen players out of contract at the end of this season including veterans in Tom Cole, Jamie Cripps and Jayden Hunt as well as top draftee Campbell Chesser and speedster Jack Petruccelle.
Co-captain Oscar Allen is also without a new deal at the Eagles beyond 2025 and is widely believed to be headed to Brisbane as a free agent on a six-year deal.
West Coast have all but secured a third wooden spoon and could finish with only one win for the season for the first time in their history after the 16.9 (105) to 8.8 (56) defeat to Richmond at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
The Eagles made a whopping 11 list changes last year and are likely to make plenty this off-season through trades, delistings and retirements.
Cripps has been open about his desire to play on next year, while Cole was dropped back to the WAFL earlier this year, but his leadership could be needed in defence in the wake of the retirement of five-time All-Australian Jeremy McGovern.
Hunt has found himself back in the reserves after he was axed in the wake of their round 16 defeat to Collingwood, while Chesser is yet to make an AFL appearance this year as he's struggled for consistent form since returning from ankle surgery.
Petruccelle played his second AFL game for the season against Richmond, playing as the sub once again having not featured since round two against Brisbane.
McQualter said there were players who needed to stand up in the last part of the season to hold their spot on the list for next year.
'Every year, that's absolutely what happens. There's list changes every year, there's guys that'll be out of contract and there'll be list changes every year like there are at every club,' he said.
'That's just how the AFL industry works, and the reality is there's five more games for people to fight for their spots.'
McQualter conceded there was a void in confidence among the players that is 'hurting deep in the souls of our players' when they would be on top in the game but not get the reward on the scoreboard.
The first-year coach said it was a 'simple' fix though.
'You just have to do the work, that's as simple as it is,' McQualter said.
'We just have to keep creating a culture that people want to do the work. They're invested, they care about each other, they care about the team and no one else can do it for you.
'We'll just keep doing the work, we'll keep finding the right people that want to the do the work and build.'
Part of that is to find support for young star Harley Reid who starred in the first half against Richmond with 20 disposals and six clearances before he was heavily tagged by Jack Ross.
Reid went into attack in the final quarter and kicked two of the Eagles' three goals to ensure he continued to have an influence.
McQualter said the Eagles had to find players to support Reid into the future.
'It's a difficult position at the moment but as a team we have to find more people and players and ways to not rely on one person,' he said.
'There's no AFL team ever that relies on one player to be good so we're going to keep working hard to find and create players that can keep influencing the game.'
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