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AAP
Justin Chadwick, Shayne Hope and Joanna Guelas

GWS not viewing Eagles as easybeats on bogey ground

GWS are out to atone for their shock loss when the Eagles flew high at Optus Stadium last year. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

The Orange Tsunami were the stadium kings last year, and GWS are keen to make amends for the one that should have been the easiest of the lot when they return to Perth this Sunday.

GWS won at an AFL record 11 different venues in 2023, but their only trip to Optus Stadium resulted in a shock 19-point loss to eventual wooden spooners West Coast in round two.

In all, GWS have a horror 1-8 record at Optus Stadium, and coach Adam Kingsley says his team are eager to make amends in Sunday's re-match against West Coast in Perth.

"We're certainly very keen," Kingsley said.

"We know going over there is a tough challenge. Our record over there hasn't been great.

"We're one (win) from nine attempts out there and clearly in my time here we're 0-1.

"It's a beautiful ground to play at but it's one where we haven't done all that well, so we need to rectify that. We're really keen to get over there and try to fix that."

Kingsley said the poor record in Perth isn't concerning, but one they want to turn around.

"Certainly last year we had some of those things that we were facing and we managed to overcome them," he said.

"You know, we hadn't won in Canberra for a long time and we managed to tick that one off. This will just be another one on the list."

The Eagles won just three games last season, and five of their losses were by more than 100 points.

West Coast are hot favourites to finish last again this year, and their 50-point loss to Port Adelaide in round one hasn't helped ease the dire predictions.

In contrast, GWS have begun their season with impressive victories over premiers Collingwood and North Melbourne.

Despite their contrasting fortunes, midfielder Tom Green said GWS were on guard for a tough West Coast unit.

"You can't get complacent. This competition is far too even," Green said.

"We lost one over there last year so we'd be kidding ourselves if we think that we can just roll over there and take care of business.

"They're going to be improved and if we don't show up, they're going to knock us off."

The loss of co-captain Oscar Allen for at least eight weeks with a knee injury has further hampered West Coast's hopes of being competitive this season.

West Coast have dropped Andrew Gaff and Alex Witherden for the match against GWS, with 20-year-old ruckman Harry Barnett, Jamaine Jones and sub Ryan Maric brought in.

The Giants have included James Peatling in place of last week's sub Nick Haynes, who will stay in Sydney for the birth of his first child.

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