Dual premiership Kangaroo David King believes there’s “really poor leadership” at West Coast – both on and off the field – as he called for the club to “make a couple of statements”.
King’s comments in the wake of the undermanned Eagles’ horror 81-point loss to the Giants, which has left Andrew McQualter’s side on the bottom of the AFL ladder with a 0-4 record.
In a week where uncontracted captain Oscar Allen was in the headlines for meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell as he faces a free agency call, it was Allen’s co-captain, Liam Duggan that was put under the blowtorch by King on Sunday night.
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King on Fox Footy’s First Crack pointed to a passage of play from the opening few minutes of Sunday’s game – when both the Giants and Eagles had yet to score – where a lack of defensive intent exposed Duggan. You can watch the vision in our video player above.
Young Giants star Darcy Jones was being tracked closely by Duggan on the wing before Jones pounced on a loose ball and kicked into attack, finding captain Toby Greene.
After Jones had disposed of the ball, he continued to sprint inside 50. Duggan, however, slowed to a jog, consequently giving Jones ample leg-rope.
Green’s kick landed just short of Jake Stringer, who cleverly tapped the ball into Jones’ lap, resulting in the opening goal of the game from just outside the goalsquare.
Duggan watched on, a good 20m behind the play.
The vision left King flabbergasted.
“I think they’ve got really poor leadership at the moment across the board, the West Coast Eagles, as a club – on and off-field,” King told First Crack. “And this is another action that I think Liam Duggan would want his time again.
“This is two and a half minutes into a game of footy. And I understand the kid with the lid (Jones) has got some serious wheels. But this is not a speed issue, this is an application and attitude issue.
“Tick to there (for Duggan) – and then he drops the anchor, he expects someone else to do his job for him. You’re the captain, mate. You should be setting the standard, you should be running the show.
“After that play, he just drifts off and doesn’t take any responsibility.
“They put the other captain in front of the media to be savaged during the week. I think Liam Duggan needs to have a bit of a reality check.
“I think the club need to make a couple of statements.”
It led King to ponder who the next Eagles captain would be after Duggan and Allen.
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And dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna suggested the Eagles would have to look at some of their recent recruits.
“I think Andrew McQualter has to turn to his Tigers boys he brought across,” Montagna told First Crack. “I think he has to turn to Liam Baker and Jack Graham and say: ‘I’ve brought you to this club to set the standards, what premiership standards look like, to set a tone.’ I think they’re going to have to go that way.”
Fellow First Crack panellist Jay Clark said that would be an “indictment” on the Eagles already on the list.
Montagna replied: “There’s not many options at the Eagles for captaincy material.”
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