WEST Coast still has some work to do if it is to break its duck against top-eight sides this season and it starts next week against North Melbourne, Eagles coach Adam Simpson says. 

The Eagles also face an interesting dilemma with their ruck combination ahead of a meeting with star Kangaroo Todd Goldstein after the experimental duo of Scott Lycett and Mitch Brown were beaten in the hit-outs in the 78-point win over Essendon.

The Eagles demolished the Bombers after trailing at quarter-time. They have a perfect 9-0 record against bottom-10 sides this year, but are the only top-eight team to have not beaten a fellow finals contender so far.

Simpson said the Eagles need to beat North if they want to factor in September.

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"We need to beat a side like that to play finals, no doubt about that," Simpson said.

"We're not shying away from that.

"I don't think we can (package) that up as away or home (form) or anything other than we haven't been good enough against sides that are fighting for the same position as us."

The Eagles experimented with Brown as the second ruck behind Lycett against Essendon after dropping both Jonathan Giles and Fraser McInnes.

West Coast lost the hit-outs by nine and the clearances by six, with Lycett managing 28 hit-outs to Matthew Leuenberger's 31.

Brown had six hit-outs in his first-ever game as a ruckman. It was also his first AFL game since round one last season when he ruptured his ACL for the second time.

"I thought he was serviceable," Simpson said.

"We tried ‘Gov’ (Jeremy McGovern) in the last quarter as well. We've probably got some work to do with that. He's not a natural ruck. It was his first game ever doing it.

"So there's a fair challenge ahead with Goldstein coming up next week. 

"We just thought with ‘Gilesy’ probably being a No.1 ruckman, and Fraser probably didn't hit the marks we wanted to against Brisbane, so we tried something a little bit different."

Simpson said he would need to review the tape to see if he would use Brown again against the Kangaroos. 

The Eagles also dropped new recruit Jack Redden for the clash with the Bombers. His lack of pre-season following adductor surgery has affected his first season at West Coast significantly and Simpson said he just wanted him to get some confidence in the WAFL.

"Just enjoy his footy and have a real go and play to his strengths," Simpson said.

"Nothing too out of the ordinary. There's some things we need to work on off the ball as well, but mainly just to get back and get some touch, feel good about himself, play well, all those basic things.

"Our development boys will work hard with him to get back in the seniors.

The Eagles recalled Patrick McGinnity and he kicked a career-best four goals against the Bombers. They also used young defender Jackson Nelson in a run-with role in the midfield.

Simpson was pleased with the performance of both players.