Hurn says defeats don't tell full story
West Coast defender Shannon Hurn insists the Eagles are better than their record over the past 12 months and says the team has improved despite a string of defeats.
The Eagles lost to Hawthorn by 44 points in Launceston on Saturday to leave them with a 4-7 win-loss record at the halfway point of the season. They were 6-5 at the same point last year and finished the season with a total of nine wins. They have now lost 15 of their past 22 matches.
Only St Kilda, Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney have lost more home-and-away games during that period.
West Coast are 11th, with their four wins this year against the struggling Saints, Demons, Giants and Western Bulldogs.
"We're mid-table," Hurn said.
"Our good stuff can certainly match it. We're probably a bit inconsistent and the other mid-range sides are a bit inconsistent so I think that's where we are at.
"You want to go through your football career being as consistent as you can and trying to get better all the time.
"I'd say we have got better. But at the end of the day it is a win-loss industry and that's how you get judged as well. Our win-loss stuff will say we're even."
Hurn said the squad was learning a lot from new coach Adam Simpson but needed to get better at putting his instructions into practice.
"I think we have a better understanding of how football can be played," Hurn said.
"There's different styles and I think we learn quite well. It's just putting them into practice when we have to do whichever one.
"A lot of it comes down to confidence. Winning helps that. I've always had the belief that the senior players try to lead and set the example. It's about having a good attitude."
West Coast's task won't get any easier this week when they face the Gary Ablett-led Gold Coast at Patersons Stadium. That will be followed by St Kilda, then Fremantle and Sydney.
Hurn defended West Coast's back line, which had no answer as Hawks star Jarryd Roughead ran rampant with eight goals.
"Roughead's a star player and Gunston and Breust are very good players as well, so they've got a very dangerous forward line," Hurn said. "I suppose the key to stopping that is trying to make sure it doesn't come in."
