Frustrated Eagles kick themselves again

West Coast have tumbled out of the top-eight after suffering their fourth straight loss - a 19-point defeat to Fremantle.

Will Schofield of the West Coast Eagles

West Coast have tumbled out of the top-eight after suffering their fourth straight AFL loss. (AAP)

West Coast coach Adam Simpson was left banging his desk in frustration after his team's goalkicking woes haunted them yet again in Sunday's 19-point AFL derby loss to Fremantle.

The Dockers lost defender Zac Dawson to an ankle injury during the second quarter and trailed by six points early in the third term at Patersons Stadium.

But last year's grand finalists dug deep when it mattered most, booting the next six goals to secure the 11.7 (73) to 7.12 (54) win.

West Coast only had themselves to blame for the loss after spraying a number of gettable shots on goal when the game was on the line.

The Eagles had kicked a combined 23.39 in recent losses to Geelong, Port Adelaide and Carlton.

And they booted 1.8 during the second quarter against the Dockers at a time when they could have set up a handy lead and crushed Fremantle's spirit.

The result stretched West Coast's losing run to four, while Fremantle improved their record to 4-3 ahead of tough matches against Port Adelaide (away) and Geelong.

Simpson said his team's inaccuracy and slow starts to games were costing them.

"It's the third week in a row we've had more scoring shots," Simpson said ahead of next week's home clash with GWS.

"It's frustrating. I reckon I punched the desk a couple of times today and the players would be frustrated.

"Supporters and members would be frustrated as well when three weeks in a row we've given up starts to games.

"We're finding a way to get back into the game and we're not really capitalising."

Dockers midfielder Lachie Neale (32 possessions, one goal) won the Ross Glendinning medal for best afield, while ruckman Aaron Sandilands, Nat Fyfe, Michael Johnson, Paul Duffield, Danyle Pearce and Hayden Ballantyne were also crucial in the win.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said Neale was among a batch of young Fremantle players making their mark on the team.

But he said the 20-year-old's toughest challenge was still yet to come.

"Lachie's next step is he'll get tagged," Lyon said.

"We'll start throwing out the bouquets when he's learnt to work through a tag."

Dawson is in doubt for Saturday's away clash with the Power after rolling his ankle, while fellow defender Luke McPharlin will also be assessed during the week after playing out most of the game with a leg injury.

West Coast midfielder Luke Shuey twisted his right ankle while being tackled by Ryan Crowley in the final quarter, but is expected to be fit to tackle GWS.


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Source: AAP


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