West Coast

we will win that and then everyone will predict big things and everyone will say the cousins affair has damaged west coast.

watch as we then finish 14th and they make the top 4

The West Coast Eagles say their trip to Alice Springs next week comes at a good time after weeks of dealing with player controversies.

During a troubled preseason the Eagles' captain Ben Cousins has resigned from the job and forward Ashley Sampi has been charged with assault.

The Eagles will play Carlton in a preseason game in Alice Springs on March 10.

Eagles assistant coach Darren Harris said the Central Australian visit would be a good team bonding exercise.

"To get away and to travel together will definitely be a good thing," Harris said.

"To be in the Alice where I know that the interest is very high - it'll be good to get away and spend some time together and hopefully continue that building together."

Harris said two of the club's Aboriginal stars, Sampi and David Wirrpanda, were disappointed they would not have the chance to play before a large Indigenous crowd in Alice Springs.

Both Sampi and Wirrpanda are out because of injury.

"I know they're really disappointed too because they would have loved to have played and I know it's eating away at them a little bit that they won't be available for this game," he said.

Source: ABC