WEST Coast veteran Sam Butler has defended the Eagles' away record, saying their losses on the road this season have been more about inconsistent form and the quality of opposition rather than any kind of travel phobia.
The Eagles produced six wins interstate last season but have lost their last four games on the road.
They lost to Adelaide in Adelaide in round 22 last year and lost to Hawthorn in the Grand Final.
In two interstate trips this season they have lost to Hawthorn and the Sydney Swans by 46 and 39 points respectively.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson said on Sunday that he would continue to field questions on the Eagles' away record until they won on the road.
Butler said the Eagles' record away from home was pretty good last season and said that they had simply not played well against two good sides interstate this year.
"In terms of our form away, I don't really know what to say," Butler said.
"I think our form last year was pretty good away. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think we had a pretty good track record away from home last year.
"We've played some really good teams this year away from home and they got the better of us. So it's not so much away from home or at home, it's more about consistency of our performance.
"We're a pretty experienced side nowadays. We've got a lot of players that have played more than 100 or 150 games.
"We've got a lot of experience on the road. We've won a lot of good games away from home.
"I don't think our mindset changes away from home. It's more about the teams we play and how we play them on different grounds, obviously."
The Eagles face another huge test on the road this week against Geelong at Simonds Stadium on Saturday.
The Eagles have lost their last four matches at the venue and have not won there since their premiership season of 2006, when they came from a staggering 54 points down in the third quarter to win by three points.
Butler was injured that day and was forced to watch the comeback from Perth.
"It was a pretty gripping game and exciting to watch," Butler said.
"We haven't beaten them there for 10 years.
"You don't want a team to have the wood on you for that long, preferably. It's a big game for our season going forward and where we want to be."
Matt Priddis is the only current Eagle who played in that 2006 win at Simonds Stadium. Priddis, 31, made his AFL debut that day.
