Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says they need to figure out how to solve their first-quarter issues “quickly” after it proved the difference in a 25-point defeat to Adelaide at Optus Stadium on Friday night.
The Eagles conceded eight of the first nine goals and trailed by as much as 42 points early in the second term, before fighting back on their way in a brave 15.9 (99) to 11.8 (74) defeat.
It was the 13th time in 16 matches the Eagles have been behind at the opening break and has proved costly for the rebuilding side who have shown signs of improvement but ultimately have a 4-12 record.
McQualter said the Eagles had proven to be a strong finishing team but the inability to start strongly had hindered their ability to capitalise.
“It’s been a problem for sure and we need to figure it out quickly because there’s not an easy answer, there’s not one answer,” he said.
“There has always been always different reasons as to why but ultimately we need to be in the game more at quarter time.
“We’ve proven to be a strong running team now and our ability to finish games is strong, which is an improvement but too often it has been from behind the eight ball.”
McQualter also lamented his side’s inability to stop the Crows’ strength to score from centre clearances, where they dominated all night but none more than in the opening stanza.
“Ultimately they scored 5.1 from centre bounce, we scored zero and they beat us by 10 (centre bounce clearances), it’s the difference in the game,” he said.
“They just won the contest more. Their ruckman (Lachlan McAndrew) was very strong, he won three or four clearances himself (in) quarter one and I thought Bailey (Williams) fought his way through it, adjusted some things and got better as the game went on.
“And the coaches changes some things as the game went on and it gave us more of a chance but I think 2-11 (centre clearances) at half time with four goals (from there). It’s a massive differential and something we’ve been OK at this year but not good enough tonight.”
One of the reasons the Eagles struggled at the clearances was uncharacteristically down performance from veteran Elliot Yeo who is traditionally a barometer in the middle.
Yeo finished with only seven touches and one clearance, despite attending 21 centre bounces while he spent large periods of play as the deepest forward.
Asked about the 32-year-old’s down game, McQualter said: “sometimes that happens”.
“Yeoy’s been a very good player for a long period of time, he’s had a down night tonight but he’s a competitive person. We’ll find a way to get him to bounce back and recapture his best form.
“It (his role) is not too dissimilar to how he’s played most of the year to be fair, but we didn’t get as much territory in this game as we have.
“Our entries up to three-quarter time was not enough due to the reasons I spoke to earlier, we just need to keep finding the best way to maximise Yeoy and his strengths.”
