"Our game's gone backwards in the last few weeks, that's evident for all to see."
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter has described the club's second 100-point defeat in four weeks as "devastating," conceding the Eagles have regressed significantly over the past month.
Following a comeback victory against Port Adelaide in round three, West Coast has now lost four consecutive games with an average losing margin of 82.75 points. The latest blow was a 101-point loss to St Kilda on Sunday, during which the Saints piled on eight unanswered goals in the final quarter.
"Our game's gone backwards in the last few weeks, that's evident for all to see," McQualter said.
He identified key areas requiring immediate improvement: defence, pressure on the ball, and the ability to prevent opponents from taking marks. Calling the defeat "devastating for our fans, for us, for everyone involved," McQualter added that "the road ahead is going to be long and tough."
"The road ahead is going to be long and tough."
In a notable tactical move, No.1 draft pick Willem Duursma was assigned to tag St Kilda's Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, who finished with 34 possessions. McQualter praised Duursma's attitude, stating: "He's going to learn so much from one of the best players in the competition. He embraced that challenge. He asked to do it."
West Coast's next match is a home fixture against Richmond at Optus Stadium.