Eagles to stand by strugglers

WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson has vowed to stick by under-fire forwards Jack Darling and Mark LeCras, saying the duo still have plenty more to give on the AFL stage.

Darling and LeCras have struggled to fire this season, and there’s huge pressure on them to perform tonight against Geelong at Subiaco.

With spearhead Josh Kennedy to miss a second-straight match with a calf injury, the Eagles need LeCras and Darling to fill the goalkicking void.

LeCras has managed just 17.15 in 10 games this season, while Darling has returned 19.13. And when Kennedy was missing in the recent loss to Gold Coast, LeCras and Darling combined for just 18 disposals and 0.1.

Simpson has put his group on notice after three losses in a row, saying there will come a time when he has to axe any underperforming regulars.

Darling was tipped for stardom after booting 53 goals in 2012, his second AFL season. But he has gone backwards since and mistakes in big games have angered supporters.