WEST Coast has no qualms about playing finals if it finishes ninth and the Bombers are stripped of their points, veteran ruckman Dean Cox says.
Speculation has swirled Essendon may be banned from finals as punishment arising from ASADA's interim report into the club's controversial supplements program, moving the next best team into the finals.
The Eagles put themselves back in contention with a 53-point victory over the under-fire Bombers on Sunday afternoon.
The Eagles sit in 10th spot on the AFL ladder, level on points with Carlton, with matches to come against Geelong at Patersons Stadium, Collingwood at the MCG, and Adelaide at home.
Last year's All Australian ruckman said despite the speculation around ninth spot, and the worthiness of playing finals after finishing ninth, he and his teammates would welcome the opportunity.
"I'd be happy with it. It wouldn't bother me," Cox said.
"I think that's out of everyone's control. If we play finals because we come ninth, and the AFL allow you to do that, well so be it.
"We'll be playing fifth and we'll give them a good crack."
Cox said his team was well aware of the situation and had spoken about the possibility of still playing in September.
"You'd be living under a rock if you didn't know what was happening, obviously surrounding the media and the case at Essendon," Cox said.
"But that's out of our control. Whether that's eighth or ninth, and you play finals - we'd love to play finals.
"But we are not going to play finals if we lose two or three more games this season."
Essendon coach James Hird felt his side was affected by the off-field drama against West Coast but Cox was not of the same view.
"It's amazing that you're only affected in the second half, not the first half," Cox said.
"I thought both sides threw everything at each other for the entire game.
"It was close all the way through, and for our boys to stick it out was really important for our season."
The task does not get any easier for West Coast as it takes on Geelong at home on Saturday night. Cox believes the Cats are the premier team this season.
"I still see Geelong as the benchmark of the competition," Cox said.
"The brand of footy they play - they take the game on. High risk, high reward.
"We've watched some vision of the game and have already spoken about Geelong for this weekend.
"The boys will be ready to go."
