Hurn wants to retain two byes per season
Shannon Hurn says the game's increasing physical demands have made the season's second bye crucial, with West Coast players keen to keep the two breaks next year.
The Eagles have a four-day break starting from tomorrow after their win over Brisbane at the Gabba on Saturday night kept their finals chances alive.
Hurn, 26, plans to go fishing down south with teammates.
He said the bye weekend would be particularly beneficial to players like Matt Priddis who had carried a heavy load this season and that he wanted the extra rest included in a 2015 fixture that is expected to be compacted because of next year's cricket World Cup.
"I think it (the second bye) is pretty good, yes," Hurn said.
"I think the demands of the game get more and more each year.
"We're very good here with our pre-season that we get a lot of work and then we do a bit of recovery and then during the week it's about getting recovery right and getting your body right. You get all your fitness during the games now.
"I think the players would potentially enjoy the two byes … Pridda is very professional in the way he goes about his football with his recovery and the way he trains, but even he gets a bit tired."
West Coast are two wins outside the eight and will face four teams directly above them on the ladder - Essendon, Collingwood, Gold Coast and Adelaide.
Hurn said the next step was to show they could be "tough enough for long enough", starting with their next match against a resurgent Richmond at Patersons Stadium on Friday week.
Defender Mitch Brown is a chance to return after recovering faster than expected from knee and ankle injuries. Fellow back man Jacob Brennan is also available after being cleared over a collision with Brisbane's Lewis Taylor in the second quarter, with the AFL match review panel ruling the Eagle had braced for contact rather than bumped.
The Tigers thrashed West Coast by 41 points when they met in Perth in round 10 last year - a result that started the Eagles' slide from finals contention.
"They've been playing some pretty good football their last month and once they're up and going they can be hard to stop," Hurn said.
The 146-gamer has put his hand up for the full-time captaincy and believes a defender is an ideal skipper in the modern game because they are in a good position to read the play.
"… (the second bye) is pretty good … the demands of the game get more … each year." " *Shannon Hurn *
