West Coast defender Tom McCarthy has admitted his surprise at his side being pegged by the bookmakers as outsiders for their clash with Port Adelaide.

Despite having beaten the 16th-placed Power at Adelaide Oval in round three, the Eagles are considered a $2.18 hope for the return fixture at Optus Stadium on Saturday, with the visitors given $1.68 odds.

The hosts will also enter the game as the side in better form, having beaten Essendon by 30 points on Sunday night on the back of a credible loss to Collingwood and impressive win over Greater Western Sydney. Port Adelaide had lost their last four games before having a bye last weekend.

McCarthy said he did not take much notice of betting odds.

“It’s surprising, a little bit, because I thought we were in some good form and we beat them earlier this year,” McCarthy told 6PR.

“Obviously, Port are going to show up with a bit of fire this week after we beat them this year, so who knows what will happen.”

Of the 22 AFL games McCarthy has played since joining West Coast in last year’s mid-season draft, his 26-disposal effort against the Bombers on the weekend was graded as the best by Champion Data.

Having started the season in the midfield before being quickly shifted back to defence, the 25-year-old said he was happy to be settled in the back-line again.

“I reckon I’ve had some better games, but I think just due to the team finally clicking and playing well together and the back-line playing well together, it allows me to get my game flowing consistently,” he said.

McCarthy also slotted his first AFL goal in the midst of the Eagles’ third-term blitz of Essendon, which he said was “the best feeling I’ve felt on a football field so far — other than winning, obviously.”

“I didn’t know what to do, all the boys just ruffled my hair. I just ran back to the back-line not knowing how to celebrate,” he said.

“Duggo (Liam Duggan) and Bakes (Liam Baker), I was talking to them and they only came over to me for a backman’s goal, they actually didn’t realise it was my first goal because I kicked a couple in the (practice games) earlier in the year.

“When they realised, they celebrated again with me half an hour later.”