ADAM Simpson got just the response he was looking for after blasting his lacklustre ruckmen at half-time against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night.

 

After opening up a 19-point cushion during the second-quarter, West Coast went to sleep as the Lions got back within a goal at the main break.

 

And the problems for the Eagles started in the middle of the ground.

 

Fighting a lone hand in the ruck, Lion Stefan Martin not only levelled the hit-outs at 20 apiece, but was largely responsible for giving the home team a decisive 21-15 advantage in the clearances.

 

The West Coast coach admitted he was fuming with his ruck trio of Nic Naitanui, Scott Lycett and Callum Sinclair.

 

"I wasn't happy at half-time, put it that way," Simpson said following the 12-point victory.

 

"We played a tall side so we needed to get an advantage in that area, and if we can't get that, we're vulnerable.

 

"They stood up, our rucks, in the second half, gave our mids first possession, fixed up our clearances and the contested ball came."

 

In the final two quarters the Eagles dominated around the stoppages, winning the clearances 25-11 and supplying just enough ball to sneak home.

 

While Naitanui (34 hit-outs and 10 disposals) lifted, it was Lycett that caught Simpson's attention, with the 21-year-old racking up 19 disposals and seven marks to go with his 17 hit-outs.

 

Simpson said he was relieved with the victory, despite its scrappy nature.

 

Although not being drawn into the mathematical chance of still making the finals, the Eagles coach has seen enough during his first season in charge to be encouraged.

 

"We’re not really looking at that (finals)," he said.

 

"I think we’ve made some solid improvement through the year.

 

"We’ve played some tough teams (Fremantle and the Sydney Swans in the past fortnight) who are highly credentialed and will possibly play off for the premiership this year.

 

"Our last month, albeit it wasn't pretty tonight, I think we’re staying in the game for longer and that’s been our main message over the last six weeks, tougher for longer, and we’re getting slowly better and exposing our young players to games like this, which is important for us."