Eagles coach Adam Simpson blast ‘unacceptable’ effort in Hawks’ record rout

West Coast coach Adam Simpson blasted his side’s meek capitulation to Hawthorn in Sunday’s bottom two battle at Launceston.

LAUNCESTON, AUSTRALIA - MAY 21: Adam Simpson, Senior Coach of the Eagles chats with Jayden Hunt of the Eagles during the 2023 AFL Round 10 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the West Coast Eagles at UTAS Stadium on May 21, 2023 in Launceston, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson described the biggest loss in his 219-game tenure as

“unacceptable”, blasting his side for a lack of pressure and effort in a miserable 116-point defeat to Hawthorn at UTAS Stadium on Sunday.

Although missing several experienced stars in an almost unprecedented injury toll, Simpson said there were no excuses for the insipid display against a fellow bottom two side, who had also won just once previously this year.

The Eagles were destroyed in all facets and conceded the last 12 goals in the Hawks’ ruthless 22.10 (142) to 4.2 (26) win, their biggest ever over the Eagles.

Hawthorn won the marks inside 50 count 18-1, inside 50s 70-29 and were too hot at the contest for the Eagles, before letting their powerful outside runners do the rest.

It shapes as one of the biggest challenges Simpson has faced in his career. He said bringing an acceptable level was bare minimum after they plunged to outright bottom on the ladder.

“(It was) extremely disappointing, not good enough. Unacceptable,” Simpson said.

“We’re going to have to do a lot of work in a short space of time. There’s not a lot to take out of that game at all.

“No (it’s not the lowest point of my tenure) as I can’t get to that point, and we can’t either, but we’re better than that.

We’ve got to lick our wounds and get onto it, before a six day break into Essendon. But I don’t look at history, I look at right now and what we need to do tonight, tomorrow the next day.”

Simpson said he could accept being outclassed, particularly when forced to pick youngsters before they’re ready, but not a lack of application.

The Eagles’ pressure has been solid in recent weeks, but it evaporated completely at Launceston.

“You lose and as much as that hurts, there’s a method and pathway we want to continue to search for,” he said.

“Today we didn’t bring the pressure. We got beaten on the inside, they were too quick and beat us on the outside.

“You put numbers behind the play and they use the ball differently. Your hands are tied a bit, but the effort wasn’t the same as it’s been in the past when we’ve put up reasonable performances.

“It’s probably the youngest group we’ve had for years. It’s being aware of that, but it’s not the standard we’re searching for.

“The start point is effort, we want maximum effort and we didn’t get it.

“There’s no excuses about today, none at all, but we hope to get some senior players back soon that will help.”

The embarrassing defeat was compounded by further injury issues with Jaiman Jones limping off with an ankle injury during the second quarter after a strong start to the match.

Forward Oscar Allen also didn’t play the final minutes with a knee issue and Liam Duggan copped a knock to the neck.

Originally published as Eagles coach Adam Simpson blast ‘unacceptable’ effort in Hawks’ record rout