West Coast coach Adam Simpson has declared veteran Andrew Gaff will return to the beginning 22 subsequent week to face Carlton after he got here on because the sub and had 24 disposals in opposition to Richmond.
The Eagles misplaced 14.14 (98) to eight.12 (60) however Gaff responded to his six possessions in opposition to Brisbane together with his highest tally since spherical eight. It was additionally the primary time since spherical eight that he frolicked within the centre sq..
Simpson mentioned Gaff’s step ahead confirmed he needs to be in the principle line-up once more.
“Yeah. He improved immediately,” Simpson mentioned.
“It was about Gaffy getting the ball, but additionally his confidence that he’s nonetheless acquired it. As a participant, typically you query it. Till you get some proof, it’s onerous to shake it. Hopefully there’s some proof there immediately.
“I get the criticism of Gaff and Gaff has been struggling somewhat bit however I believed he was wonderful when he got here on.
“At the moment he acquired on the within somewhat bit, he seemed like he was on prime of the bottom so hopefully it’s a step ahead to get him again into type. We nonetheless worth what he does for us.”
Gaff got here onto the bottom in the course of the first quarter after Reuben Ginbey injured his hamstring. The 31-year-old mentioned it had been a difficult time personally.
“I clearly haven’t been at my finest for a short time now, however all I can do is knuckle down, work onerous and enhance as a participant every day,” he advised 6PR
“I’d be foolish to assume I shouldn’t be enjoying higher than I’ve been, so I couldn’t do rather more than get on with coaching, get on with every day and put my head down and work onerous.”
On a day the place Jack Darling kicked his five hundredth profession aim, Richmond seized management in the course of the third time period with 4 fast objectives to guide by 42 factors. The Eagles scale back the deficit to 26 factors within the final quarter however Richmond’s expertise stood out.
“There have been patches there the place we have been poor and patches of resilience which was nice,” Simpson mentioned.
“I feel we had 50 inside 50s which we’ve struggled to get and might need gained scores from turnovers. However we had lapses. We seemed fairly flat at phases.
“However for the gamers to work by means of it after which reply – the stress was up, there was contested ball and subject place – we’re working actually onerous for that. However we’re disenchanted we didn’t win.”
