‘Way too inconsistent’: West Coast Eagles desperate to find identity as Jayden Hunt laments poor showing

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‘Way too inconsistent’: West Coast Eagles desperate to find identity as Jayden Hunt laments poor showing

West Coast half back Jayden Hunt says the Eagles will spend the next five weeks searching for the identity that was ******* under a St Kilda avalanche in Melbourne on Saturday.

Hunt’s spike in form, along with the resurgence of fellow defender Reuben Ginbey, were among the rare few positives to emerge from a 72-point defeat in caretaker coach Jarrad Schofield’s second game in charge.

It followed a fighting 13-point loss to Brisbane at home in the wake of Adam Simpson’s exit.

“Most important is building that identity. When we play well we actually show that, but it’s way too inconsistent,” Hunt said.

“We showed a few signs last week but this week we really let ourselves down. These next five weeks we really want to build, be really strong in the contest, play forward-half football an build our identity as a football club so we can move into next year.”

The Eagles lost the battle for contested ball 137-108 and it translated into a 67-37 inside-50 smashing under the Marvel Stadium roof.

The Saints led by 19 points at half-time, with the Eagles’ back six holding firm under intense pressure, but it was unsustainable.

“We held relatively strong in that first half, especially the second quarter when we got back to playing the way we wanted to, but the inside-50s from the start of the game they were just able to pound it in,” he said,

“Then the floodgates opened.

“It was relentless from them. We defended OK at the start but we just couldn’t keep it going for the whole four quarters.

“We need to be better than that. When they get a couple of goals we can’t allow it to turn into five, six, seven. We need to show a bit of ******.

“All around the ground it was pretty dominant from them. It is something we want to build. That contest is our identity and we need to be really strong in there.”

Camera IconLiam Ryan and Jayden Hunt take in the loss. Credit: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

Hunt’s form has spiked in his fifth game back after he missed a month of footy with a toe injury that curbed his speed off the mark, one of his strengths that allows the defender to put a spread on opponents.

He had a game-high 723 metres gained and eight intercept possessions from 35 disposals against the Saints.

“I got it a little bit of it tonight but I still need to be a bit more consistent with some of my contests,” he said.

Schofield said it was one of Hunt’s “best games in a long time”.

“He was one of the players who was getting through the game. It was good to see,” he said.

Schofield also singled out Ginbey’s performance (22 possession) in his second game across half-back after spending the season predominantly through the midfield and on a wing, and the coach said there was even more room for improvement for the second-year player.

The coach swung Ginbey into the midfield for the last quarter as they sought to lift their contested numbers.

“What we have seen from him down back, he has grown another leg, given us a bit of run and carry,” Schofield said,

“He’s got a great vertical jump. Sometimes he’s jumping too high, if he can just pluck a few of those ****** there’s another five or six opportunities to impact a game. We want him to keep going.”

data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw==Camera IconHunt on the move. Credit: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

The back six was a mix of experience and youth with Tom Barrass in the key defensive post up against St Kilda forward Tim Membrey (five goals), Tom Cole and Hunt, alongside Harry Edwards, Ginbey and Brady Hough.

Hough was handed the difficult assignment of minding Jack Higgins, who kicked one goal from 10 disposals.

“The back six held up considering the ball was coming in at times with a bit of freedom,” Schofield said.

“I think they kicked five goals on return of serve from half-back and off stoppage.

“(But) across the ground, our defence mids and forwards, it wasn’t at the level it should be.”

Schofield said West Coast’s inability to lay a tackle inside 50, compared to St Kilda’s 23, was alarming.

“That is not what we are chasing, obviously. It’s an area we’ll review whether it’s connection, whether it was the work rate to get it done. You are not going to survive with those stats,” the coach said.

“We will review as to why we had some opportunities when we did go forward but we didn’t ********.”

The Eagles expect to regain forward Jake Waterman (knee) and midfielder Elliot Yeo (soreness) for Saturday’s western derby.

Liam Duggan (concussion) will also be in the mix.

West Coast has a fortnight at home, with a match up against poor travellers Gold Coast at Optus Stadium to follow the derby.

The Eagles then face North Melbourne (away), Carlton (home) and Geelong at GMHBA as they search for a fourth win of the season.

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