Inconsistent Eagles fail AFL flag defence

Coach Adam Simpson has lamented West Coast’s inconsistent season after failing to climb the mountain of defending the AFL premiership from outside the top four.

Friday night’s 13.10 (88) to 10.8 (68) semi-final loss to Geelong at the MCG capped a tumultuous 48 hours for the Eagles that began with star forward Willie Rioli’s provisional suspension for allegedly substituting a urine anti-doping sample.

Rioli was sorely missed and his suspension likely contributed to the Eagles’ flat start.

The popular goalsneak could face four years out of the game if an investigation finds he substituted another substance for his own urine during an August 20 out-of-competition drug test.

But the odds had already been stacked against the Eagles after they squandered the chance to secure a top-four finish, meaning the only way they could secure back-to-back flags was to win four finals including three on the road.

In doing so, they would have become the first non-Victorian team to win the flag from outside the top four this century.

“We had some inconsistencies throughout the year,” Simpson said.

“I thought we probably deserved to finish fifth. We had a rough start to the season, we found our way – I think we won seven or eight in a row – and then we’ve lost the last three out of four games. So we’ve fallen away in the last month.

“We’ve been up for a long period of time but that’s not really an excuse. Teams have managed to handle that before.”

The Eagles had the chance to secure a top-two finish that would have guaranteed them two home finals when they hosted Hawthorn in round 23.

But the Hawks pulled off a stunning upset and the Eagles fell all the way to fifth.

A home elimination-final victory over Essendon secured their passage to the second week but they couldn’t match the minor premiers.

While the loss to the Hawks stung most, the Eagles also lost by a point to Collingwood in round 17 and by a goal to Richmond in round 22.

“Some critical games cost us top-four opportunities,” Simpson said.

“We still had a lot of confidence and felt really good about this group, and if anyone could do it from fifth, I thought we could and our players truly believed that.

“Unfortunately it didn’t work out.”

The Eagles will console themselves with the likely off-season acquisition of Geelong star Tim Kelly, who gathered 18 disposals and booted two goals on Friday night.

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