With pressure mounting on Worsfold after the Eagles suffered their sixth straight loss, Selwood said the responsibility for the side’s lacklustre performance fell squarely at the feet of the players and not the coach.
“It’s extremely disappointing for the boys - ‘Woosha’ said his bit but I guess the guys are really reflecting at the moment because we are the guys who dished up that performance and that is not acceptable,” he said.
Selwood was left to lament the Eagles poor start to the match as the Pies piled on six unanswered goals to hold a commanding 39-point lead at the first break.
“They got a start - we were disappointed about that because we wanted to come out early and take it right up to them,” he said.
The Eagles slowly worked their way back into the contest, reducing the margin to 26 points early in the third term before the Pies steamrolled their opponents, kicking nine consecutive goals for the quarter.
“We fought our way back into the game and then we thought we had a bit of momentum going into that third quarter, but some loose checking at stoppages, not taking the responsibility to man our opponent up and not getting goal side cost us,” he said.
One positive to come from the loss was the performance of Brad Sheppard.
Taken with the Eagles first pick (pick seven) at the 2009 NAB AFL Draft, the young defender impressed against the Pies, finishing the match with 22 disposals.
“He was our number one pick last year and he has a really good footy head,” Selwood said.
“He is getting exposed sometimes and being thrust in that backline a little bit earlier than he should, but the last few weeks he has held up really well.”
Selwood challenged his teammates to stand up and fight for the remainder of the season as the side battled to avoid the wooden spoon.
“We’ll stay positive and keep believing in ourselves - out of every game there is always a positive,” he said.
“It’s hard work; you have got to fight through it. Every team goes through it, you can’t just sit there and go ‘What’s happening to me or our side’ - you just have to stand up, chest out and barge through this.”
