Eagles take big step backwards in 108-point shellacking

West Coast coach Adam Simpson concedes his team took a step backwards in the 108-point mauling at the hands of Carlton, but he doesn't believe they gave up.

Star spearhead Charlie Curnow booted nine goals as Carlton crushed the Eagles 23.14 (152) to 6.8 (44) in Saturday's one-sided affair.

It was West Coast's second heaviest defeat under Simpson, narrowly falling short of the 109-point loss to Richmond in round seven last year.

West Coast entered the match missing 10 of their best 22 players, with many of them sidelined until the latter stages of the season.

The Eagles won only two games last year, and 2023 is shaping up to be just as painful.

Simpson cut a deflated figure following the loss to Carlton, which sent his team plummeting to the bottom of the ladder with a 1-6 record and a percentage of just 64.3. 

"Unacceptable, not good enough, not happy. We need to be better. But we are aware of the big picture as well," Simpson said.

"I don't think we'd ever say we gave up, but we got out-worked. 

"We collapsed back on some of the things we were doing in the past.

"I'm not surprised, but the way the game blew out I was really disappointed. 

"We've been hanging in there and fighting for quarters here and there, and our next goal was to fight for four quarters and deliver a win. We took a step backwards today."

West Coast showed some important signs of improvement earlier this season, but the glut of injuries have now ruined their campaign.

"We've got 17 players unavailable at the moment, so the list is pretty hard to judge at the moment," Simpson said. 

"There isn't a lot coming back in the next three or four weeks, so we've just got to stay resilient. 

"Accept the criticism, understand individually and collectively we weren't good enough tonight, and we got beaten by a side that was pretty hungry and ruthless."

Midfielder Dom Sheed (fractured larynx) is a chance to return for next Saturday's clash with Richmond at the MCG.

But the likes of Nic Naitanui (6-7 weeks), Luke Shuey (3-4 weeks), Liam Ryan (9-11 weeks), Jeremy McGovern (6-7 weeks), Jamie Cripps (11-13 weeks), Tom Cole (TBC), and Elliot Yeo (2-3 weeks) remain sidelined.

Defender Rhett Bazzo has been added to the injury list after being concussed in the loss to Carlton.