West Coast spearhead Jack Darling and Richmond star Dustin Martin shall be aiming to interrupt out of their goalkicking funks when the 2 struggling sides lock horns in Saturday’s AFL conflict on the MCG.
The injury-ravaged Eagles (1-6) copped a 108-point hiding from Carlton final week and are in peril of gathering simply the second picket spoon within the membership’s proud historical past.
Injuries to stars equivalent to Nic Naitanui, Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo, Jamie Cripps, Jeremy McGovern and Liam Ryan have extraordinarily hampered West Coast’s trigger.
But the poor type of spearhead Darling has additionally raised alarm bells.
Darling has booted simply 4 targets over the previous 4 video games – all of which got here when the matches had been already useless and buried.
The 30-year-old sprayed some early probabilities in his goalless show towards the Blues final week, however Eagles coach Adam Simpson is backing the premiership ahead to regain his typical accuracy quickly.
“I think where he’s frustrated is when he has opportunities, he hasn’t taken them,” Simpson mentioned of Darling, who has booted 9.11 for the season.
“He’s normally a pretty good set shot. Sometimes you need that (early goal) to get going early in a game.
“He’s engaged on that. He’s certainly one of our greatest kicks within the group.
“He’s an elder in the side, and we need him playing at his best.”
Martin has been stable reasonably than spectacular on the Tigers this season.
But with Richmond posting only a win and a draw throughout their opening seven video games, the Tigers are in determined want of a dominant show from the three-time North Smith medallist.
Martin’s return of 4.4 in entrance of purpose is properly down on his typical numbers, particularly contemplating he is spending extra time in assault this yr.
Shai Bolton (7.5) can also be markedly down on expectations following his 43-goal marketing campaign final yr, however coach Damien Hardwick mentioned it was as much as the remainder of the group to make sure the forwards had been getting higher appears.
“Do we wish he (Martin) kicked some more goals up forward? Absolutely,” Hardwick mentioned.
“But are we helping him? Probably not.
“So I feel what you will see that is Dustin’s an actual barometer for us.
“If we’re moving the ball and playing the way we want to play, lo and behold guys like Dustin and Shai will become better players because we’re giving them an opportunity to play the way we want to play.
“I’m certain these gamers will reply after we get that proper.”
West Coast have been boosted by the return of Dom Sheed (fractured larynx).
Richmond welcome again Dion Prestia and Jack Graham, however veteran Trent Cotchin has been rested and ruckman Ivan Soldo (foot) was withdrawn from the group on Friday, changed by Noah Cumberland.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
