West Coast coach Adam Simpson declared the club "took a step back" following the 99-point drubbing at the hands of Adelaide on Sunday.
With confidence at an all-time high after taking down flag fancies Melbourne at home in Round 10, all eyes saw this week as another opportunity to take down a scalp: the Crows at Adelaide Oval.
How wrong they'd be.
From the opening bounce, Adelaide put the sword to the rebuilding Eagles, kicking seven goals to two points in a dominant display.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson was simply bemused by the start, which was the recipe for the remainder of the game.
"We were really disappointed," Simpson said post-game.
"The way we started was indicative of the game. And once you give a side like Adelaide playing at home a start like that, it's very hard to peg it back, especially where we're at at the moment.
"We took a step back today. Our inability to defend as a team really hurt us... and then the floodgates opened."
Assessing their season to date, the Eagles have exceeded expectations, with many pundits tipping a wooden spoon to be added to their cabinet.
But an unfortunate trend that is becoming clear is the ability of the Eagles to play away from Optus Stadium.
Travelling six times away from home, West Coast have an average losing margin of 59 points.
In contrast to their away form, the Eagles have turned their tide in their favour at Optus Stadium, recording three wins (Richmond, Fremantle and Melbourne) and two losses (Essendon and GWS).
"It's pretty inconsistent our home versus away form," Simpson added.
"We put a spotlight on our form when we travel and clearly it didn't work. We just looked lethargic when we started the game. And there's no excuse for that, so we got to own it.
"But the maturity of the group as we grow, as a team, as a unit, we expect more."
As footy fans have come to expect is a Harley Reid highlight.
Harley Reid at it AGAIN, this time Rachele cops the 'don't argue.' 👊
📺 Watch #AFLCrowsEagles LIVE on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/c5VwhmeFbG
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/inhEwEAdN8
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/OfHa8KyJjd pic.twitter.com/A4nPXPjHgQ— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) May 26, 2024
Despite the quiet game by the standards he's set in his short career thus far, Reid graced viewers with a trademark fend-off, whilst also getting above the pack to bring down a superb mark.
Simpson was impressed with how the youngster continued to fight, naming a few Eagles players who could hold their heads high.
"I don't think we rolled over, I just think we got outplayed," Simpson admitted.
"And some individuals did a pretty good job. I thought Bailey Williams was okay in the ruck. Jamaine Jones went back and did some good things. Chesser. Reuben. Harley stood up. Barrass. McGovern.
Campbell Chesser hunted him down 😤#AFLCrowsEagles pic.twitter.com/kh72JLdIEI
— AFL (@AFL) May 26, 2024
"Some of our younger players stood up. But collectively, that's (the disappointing) bit.
"When we play, we play as one and it didn't look like that tonight."
The Eagles will return home and start preparing for St Kilda.
