Jack Graham has launched a passionate defence of the leadership at West Coast, saying they’re trying their “arses off” to help reverse the club’s fortunes.

It comes as the midfielder says co-captain Oscar Allen has the backing of the playing group to remain in his role despite conjecture around the future of his role following a meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell last week.

The Eagles’ senior players have been heavily criticised in the wake of their devastating 81-point loss to Greater Western Sydney last weekend.

Speaking in Adelaide on Tuesday ahead of West Coast’s Gather Round clash with Carlton on Saturday, Graham said the pressure hadn’t impacted the club’s leaders, who were banding together to try to lead the side out of its rut.

“Everyone’s got their say. They can say whatever they want,” he said.

“As a leadership group, we come together, we try our arses off.

“We’ll reunite with the group, the younger group and lead from the front.”

Both West Coast’s skippers have been in the spotlight across the past week, with Allen criticised for his meeting with Mitchell as he explores his options as an impending free agent.

Graham said the playing group supported Allen to continue to lead the team.

“We just get around him. He’s a great person, a great teammate and we love him,” he said.

“That stuff always happens in football and as long as we’re there as a football club and mates to support him, that’s the main thing.

“We back Oscar in. He’s our teammate, he’s a great friend, he’s a great leader.

“We’ll just put our arms around him and support him, and that’s all we can do.”

Fellow co-captain Liam Duggan also copped heat, being questioned over a chasing effort that led to GWS’ first goal of the game for Darcy Jones.

“There’s so many clips that you could go through in a game. He’s not the only one doing it,” Graham said.

“Every player has got moments in the game that there not happy with and I’ll put my hand up as well.

“It’s not just Liam. There’s 18 of us on the field that could try better.”

Graham was one of the big-name recruits for the Eagles in the off-season alongside fellow former Richmond player Liam Baker and Carlton forward Matt Owies.

The 27-year-old conceded it hadn’t been an ideal start to his time at the club but was confident they could turn it around.

“Footy is a funny game. Quickly things can turn around,” he said.

“It hasn’t been ideal but that’s the world we live in so we’ve got to get back to work.”