Speaking at the club’s season launch on Tuesday morning, Worsfold said West Coast always aims to play finals football, but this year presented a more realistic chance than 2008 (15th) and 2009 (11th).
The Eagles haven’t played finals since 2007, but a rapid rebuild around key senior players Dean Cox, Darren Glass, Daniel Kerr, and Adam Selwood has them back in contention.
“We’d like to say that we can push up and hopefully win enough games and get into the eight,” Worsfold said from the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
“There are some years when you realistically look at your squad and say, ‘It’s going to be hard to do that’.
“It’s going to be tough for us this year, but we think we’re coming along at a rate that means if we play at our best consistently through the year we could make it.”
Addressing club sponsors and members, Worsfold said 2010 would be an exciting year as the playing group implements a game plan designed to win finals.
“Since the end of last season, but also throughout last year, a lot of hard work went into educating our player group on a style of football that is a little bit different to what we’ve played before,” the coach said.
“The way we think the game is heading, [it is] going to put us in the best shape to have a brand of football that will be able to hold up in finals.
“Our aim is to get [the club] back up there very quickly and continue that success for a sustained period.”
The Eagles face the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in round one and Worsfold said the club was confident it could get off to the best possible start.
However, premiership players Ash Hansen and Quinten Lynch are giving the coach a selection headache with the pair jockeying for the full-forward position ahead of the season opener.
Worsfold said it was unlikely both would line up in the same side.
“[Lynch] is fit and ready to go (and) Ash Hansen has had a very good pre-season,” Worsfold said.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked to be able to say, ‘I’m available to play’ and there’s no question about his form or his fitness. Quinten’s the same.
“Now it’s a matter of the way the match committee want to go."
Ash Hansen is a $251,400 forward in this year’s Toyota AFL Dream Team.
Quinten Lynch is a $386,100 forward
