West Coast Eagles' Road Struggles Highlight Contesting, Pressure, and Forward Half Deficiencies
Contesting
- The Eagles' home game advantages in contested possessions, groundballs, and post-clearance possessions have significantly diminished on the road.
- The team's average contested possessions versus opponents drop by 25.3 away from Optus Stadium.
- Their inability to control the ball at the contest has hindered their competitiveness.
Clearance
- Despite strong performances by Kelly, Yeo, and Reid in home games, the Eagles have struggled to maintain clearance dominance on the road.
- They have conceded an average of 30.8 points from clearances away from home compared to a positive 6.8 points for clearances at home.
Pressure
- The Eagles' pressure rating, tackles, and forward 50 tackles have all declined on the road.
- Teams are taking advantage of uncontested marks and possessions to buffer the Eagles' pressure attempts.
Forward Half
- The Eagles' ability to play in their front half has been severely impacted by their struggles in contest, clearance, and pressure.
- They have conceded an average of 15.7 more inside 50s to opponents away from home.
Impact of Travel on Team Performance
- These performance gaps have thrust the Eagles' travel struggles into the spotlight.
- Head coach Adam Simpson has acknowledged the need for improvements in travel preparation and bouncing back from poor away outings.
- The team will face a crucial challenge in round 15 against Essendon at Marvel Stadium, aiming to secure their first away points of the season.