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Pathetic Eagles cop a battering after flop

3 minute read

West Coast's top-four hopes are shot - according to an AFL great - after their 92-point thrashing to the Sydney Swans at GMHBA Stadium.

ADAM SIMPSON, Senior Coach of the Eagles.
ADAM SIMPSON, Senior Coach of the Eagles. Picture: Adam Trafford/Getty Images

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd has described West Coast as pathetic and questioned their attitude following the Eagles' latest capitulation.

West Coast's top-four hopes are shot after they suffered a 92-point loss to Sydney at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday.

It followed on from a 55-point defeat to the Western Bulldogs in Perth a week earlier, and a 97-point hammering from Geelong in round six.

Seventh-placed West Coast (8-7) are now three wins and 29 percentage points adrift of fourth spot, and they face a battle just to qualify for the finals.

West Coast fans have been quick to air their frustration and anger at the club's latest loss, and Lloyd said the Eagles simply weren't up to scratch.

"It was a pathetic performance from the West Coast Eagles. Adam Simpson would be embarrassed," Lloyd told AFL.com.au.

"He'd also be asking questions of his team. It's an attitude thing. They were a step off their man all day long. They are now ranked the worst pressure side in the game."

West Coast were beaten 40-29 in the clearances by Sydney.

It came a week after the star-studded Eagles midfield were smashed in the clearances 43-30 against the Bulldogs.

"That was alarming for the Eagles," Lloyd said.

"I think the clearances are all about attitude and toughness, and they lost that by 11.

"When the Swans won it back, there wasn't that pressure from the Eagles."

This season, West Coast have beaten just one side that is currently sitting inside the top eight.

They have posted just two wins on the road - against lowly Hawthorn at the MCG and Carlton at the SCG.

Former St Kilda star Leigh Montagna says it's time for Simpson to evolve his game plan.

"I think it's time to recognise Adam Simpson, his system and the style that he plays and the philosophy that he has, I know that he does it differently, but it's dried up, I think it's run its race," Montagna told the podcast First Crack.

"I think that the way that they play with this current group will no longer get them a chance to win a premiership.

"It's time to evolve, to get up with modern times and change the system. I know they won a premiership with that model in 2018, and it was great, but that was four years ago."

Eagles midfielder Andrew Gaff (thumb) is no certainty to return for next Monday night's clash with North Melbourne in Perth.

Fellow midfielder Jack Redden is set to undergo scans on a knee injury.

West Coast play North Melbourne, Adelaide, St Kilda, and Collingwood over the next month, giving them a chance to claw their way back into form.

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