West Coast captain Shannon Hurn admits the club has mishandled some issues this year, but insists the team's culture is strong.
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The Eagles' culture has been thrust into the spotlight following several controversial flashpoints in recent months.
The incident where club integrity officer Peter Staples manhandled two cameramen at Perth Airport drew country-wide condemnation, with the Eagles also criticised for taking almost a week to apologise.
Police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding Liam Ryan's early-morning car crash in July, while midfielder Andrew Gaff was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons after punching Andrew Brayshaw during a fiery western derby.
Rookie ruckman Tony Olango is still facing assault charges stemming from an incident that happened the day before he was drafted by West Coast.
Eagles players have dealt remarkably well with the numerous distractions, with the team now just one win away from securing a top-two finish.
"Sometimes when you have a couple of things happen in a row, people go, "Oh it's a pattern, it's an issue'," Hurn said.
"We would have loved to have handled the airport stuff better, and Gaffy wishes he wouldn't have done what he did.
"I understand why people say there's an issue. But I don't think there is.
"We've got players and people at the club who want to do the right thing, and want to set the example, which I'm really happy about."
Hurn knows first-hand what a bad culture looks like, having arrived at West Coast at the end of 2005 when the wheels were starting to fall off.
The Eagles embarked on a cultural overhaul after that, and Hurn has played a key role in enforcing strong principles since taking over as captain in 2015.
"For me, culture is what you do when people aren't looking, or when you're away from the club," Hurn said.
"It's very easy when you've got 40 players around you and someone says, 'Pick up that rubbish'.
"Everyone does it, because you're there. But it's about what you do in your own time.
"Along the way you might have a slip-up or a mistake, but I think in general we do a pretty good job."
Fremantle and West Coast will hold post-season peace talks to ensure emotions from the fiery round-20 derby won't spill into next year.
Gaff was physically targeted after breaking Brayshaw's jaw, with emotions threatening to spiral out of control
But Hurn doesn't believe there will be any lingering animosity when the teams meet again next year.
"Fremantle players were just standing up for their own teammates," Hurn said.
"That's just what both teams do. I don't think there's any anger or bitterness."
Australian Associated Press
