TonyK
CibbuanoTanking talk a 'disgrace'
August 17th 2008 00:58
WEST COAST coach John Worsfold has lashed out at former AFL coaches Stan Alves and Grant Thomas who suggested during the week that his side was better off losing to Melbourne in order to get another high-placed draft pick.
Worsfold did not name the two former St Kilda coaches in his post-match press conference but strongly defended any claims that his side was tanking.
"For past coaches of the game to get involved in talking about it I think is a disgrace," Worsfold said.
"It really reflects poorly on them as people to say that draft picks are more important than winning. I understand there's people out there that may think that way and it is a massive reflection on them."
"Our club has never been a willing participant in talking about anything to do with draft picks and we never will be. It doesn't hurt me (personally) but I think it reflects very, very badly on those people. I think it's a shame that there are people out there who would do that."
Alves and Thomas said in Melbourne's Herald Sun on Friday that the benefits of losing to the Demons far outweighed those of winning.
"I would be saying to myself, 'I've got a real chance here to play kids, experiment and, along the way, actually lose and get a crack at a priority pick'," Alves said.
Added Thomas: "Whilst the players will be trying, I'm not so sure the club will be keen."
West Coast has four wins for the season and is unlikely to add to that tally given that they finish the home-and-away season with matches against Hawthorn and reigning premiers and ladder leaders Geelong.
That means the Eagles will go into the national draft with picks two, 18 and 20. If they had beaten the Demons they would have been stripped of pick 18.
The Eagles actually led by three goals at the four-minute mark of the second quarter but failed to fire a shot from that moment on, managing just one more goal for the match as the Demons cruised to just their third win of the season.
Worsfold said his side's performance was 'not acceptable'.
"We were just terrible. It was well below what's expected, even with a fairly young side. It was not acceptable," he said.
Worsfold challenged his side to turn things around.
"They have to look each other in the eye now and that's what I've asked them to do and answer to each other," he said.
"It will be interesting to see what they come up with."
Worsfold did not name the two former St Kilda coaches in his post-match press conference but strongly defended any claims that his side was tanking.
"For past coaches of the game to get involved in talking about it I think is a disgrace," Worsfold said.
"It really reflects poorly on them as people to say that draft picks are more important than winning. I understand there's people out there that may think that way and it is a massive reflection on them."
"Our club has never been a willing participant in talking about anything to do with draft picks and we never will be. It doesn't hurt me (personally) but I think it reflects very, very badly on those people. I think it's a shame that there are people out there who would do that."
Alves and Thomas said in Melbourne's Herald Sun on Friday that the benefits of losing to the Demons far outweighed those of winning.
"I would be saying to myself, 'I've got a real chance here to play kids, experiment and, along the way, actually lose and get a crack at a priority pick'," Alves said.
Added Thomas: "Whilst the players will be trying, I'm not so sure the club will be keen."
West Coast has four wins for the season and is unlikely to add to that tally given that they finish the home-and-away season with matches against Hawthorn and reigning premiers and ladder leaders Geelong.
That means the Eagles will go into the national draft with picks two, 18 and 20. If they had beaten the Demons they would have been stripped of pick 18.
The Eagles actually led by three goals at the four-minute mark of the second quarter but failed to fire a shot from that moment on, managing just one more goal for the match as the Demons cruised to just their third win of the season.
Worsfold said his side's performance was 'not acceptable'.
"We were just terrible. It was well below what's expected, even with a fairly young side. It was not acceptable," he said.
Worsfold challenged his side to turn things around.
"They have to look each other in the eye now and that's what I've asked them to do and answer to each other," he said.
"It will be interesting to see what they come up with."
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