ADAM Simpson has lauded his players and West Coast's fitness department after watching his side overcome a five-day break to outlast a dogged Sydney outfit by 26 points on Thursday night at Domain Stadium.

The Eagles (3-1) had to work until deep into the final term to secure a crucial four points and hold off the never-give-up Swans, last year's Grand Finalists who remain winless after four games.

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West Coast edged to a hard-earned 18-point lead at three-quarter time, but had to find another gear late after the Swans threw everything into the final term and closed to within one straight kick.

"I've got to give credit to our fitness department. The boys have been working really hard, we planned (recovery from the five-day break) as well as we could have," Simpson said.

"To respond in the last quarter when we were really challenged (was positive).

"We kept a couple of rotations up our sleeve and we got it done in the end."

WATCH: Adam Simpson's full post-match media conference

Simpson was proud of his charges for matching the Swans' trademark ferocity at the contest (117-116 contested possessions) after being beaten up in the wet by Richmond at the MCG in round three.

"I suppose with a five-day break it's still probably in the back of their minds the game (against Richmond)," Simpson said.

"It was disappointing we lost, but it wasn’t the end of the world last week.

"We're going from one extreme to the other pretty quickly with some of the commentary, but we're just trying to be as consistent as we can and I thought tonight was a step forward."

The Eagles made a late change before the Sydney clash, losing athletic forward Jack Darling (ankle) and replacing him with running backman Will Schofield.

It opened the door for All Australian defender Jeremy McGovern (two goals, eight marks) to spend most of the match in attack – an idea the Eagles have been toying with for some time.

"I spoke to Gov early in the week (and told him) that it might happen," Simpson said.

"I said he might be playing ruck as well, so I said 'I want you to kick five and have forty hit-outs' and he said 'Yeah, I think that every day'.

"He was good for us. He was cramping towards the end of the game. It was a different role and they're such a tight defence Sydney as well. He'll grow in that role if we need him to play it.

"I think Darling will be available next week, we've just got to explore what we do with him."

Simpson revealed he "put it on" Jack Redden to lift during the week, and the former Brisbane Lions midfielder arguably played his best game in blue and gold with 20 disposals – 14 contested.

"I think there's another level he can go to, and I thought he showed good intensity and he was really important on a couple of occasions," Simpson said.

The Eagles have the relative luxury of a 10-day break before a huge match against nemesis Hawthorn at the MCG.

Simpson expected ex-Hawks great Sam Mitchell to pull up fine for that clash after escaping serious injury when Redden accidentally kicked his left ankle in the second quarter.

"He's a tough bugger, so I knew he would come back on," Simpson said.

"There was no structural damage and he's come back on and played the game out, albeit a bit sore."

Simpson was reluctant to look too far ahead to the Hawks game post-match, but conceded it would be a huge test at a venue where the Eagles have won only once in five attempts.

"We get that we haven't won there a lot lately and I'm sure we'll be reminded," he said.

"It's a great challenge for us. I'm sure the players are looking forward to it, I'm looking forward to it. Hawthorn is obviously a really good side.

"We'll see how they go on the weekend and we'll have a crack."