I'm sorry but if you didn't see significant talk about West Coast's injuries then idk what you were watching/reading - and where are these pre-emptive excuses from? Media is too busy criticising our bench etiquette to be worried about that
All I saw was us being described as a 'rabble' and 'smell of Fitzroy' when we had 25 blokes on the track for weeks on end.
Robbo on 360 said words the effect of 'Carlton winning this week will be a Miracle, a win for the ages if they manage it'. You're playing last year's spooners who you rolled by 100 last time you played them.
To be clear, your injuries are absolutely an excuse, especially if you lose this week. They still haven't gotten close to ours last year though (nor have Richmond's).
Our injuries however were nothing more than a passing mention though before 'but they can't keep trotting that out' in the media.
Difference of course between our issues and the Blues is the injuries turned us from being a poor side to a horrific side. It could turn yours from being a finals side to one that misses.
You are still a chance this week though. Any side playing us is still a chance.