ADAM Simpson says West Coast will embrace the hype following Sunday's thumping of Richmond, confident the Eagles won't get carried away with their status as a legitimate flag contender.
The Eagles belted the reigning premiers at Optus Stadium, booting 13 goals to six after half-time to run away with a 47-point victory.
EAGLES GO TOP Full match coverage and stats
It was West Coast's eighth-straight win, the club's best streak since 2005, and third comfortable victory in a row against a finals rival.
After the round six Western Derby triumph, Simpson declared the Eagles would know where they stood in a month.
With only one match to come in that block, and with his side now a game clear on top of the ladder, the coach is well aware it will be difficult keeping a lid on talk of an unexpected tilt at the flag.
"That's coming, I know," Simpson said post-match.
"How you deal with success is sometimes harder than how you deal with failure.
"We'll work really hard with the fact we've had a really good start to the year, we'll embrace it – we're not going to shy away from it – but at the same time the boys are pretty balanced.
"There's not too many guys that get ahead of themselves too much."
YOU DON'T KNOW JACK Five talking points
The Eagles dominated three quarters against Richmond, with maturing forward Jack Darling leading the way.
Darling bagged a career-best six goals, took 15 marks – six contested – and had 21 disposals, even with champion Alex Rance as an opponent at stages.
He is outright second in the Coleman Medal race with 28 majors and playing with seemingly unshakeable belief.
"He's going alright, Jack. He's playing reasonably good football, isn't he? How do we harness it and maintain? His process during the week is very predictable, his role is very much the same as well," Simpson said.
"I thought the forwards around him complemented him very well. JK (Josh Kennedy, three goals) was second fiddle on occasions, but that's great, that's great for us.
"Jakey Waterman had five goal assists in 11 possessions. Some of the selfless things that are happening off the ball Jack is getting rewarded for, but he's in pretty good touch."
WATCH: Adam Simpson's full post-match media conference
Simpson also lauded Elliot Yeo, who looked in trouble when he came off with an injury late in the opening term.
But the reigning club champion returned with his knee heavily bandaged and was outstanding in the centre, racking up 29 disposals with 10 clearances and a goal.
Simpson opted not to use Yeo to tag Dustin Martin, instead letting the big-bodied star hunt the ball.
"Part of his evolution for us is we need him in the midfield, we think he's a good match-up on players that can go forward, because he can go back," he said.
"We thought Yeo's importance to hunt the footy was more important.
"He's been doing jobs this year with (Nat) Fyfe and (Marcus) Bontempelli and those sort of players, but this phase we're in at the moment he's really important to hunt the footy."
Yeo is due to have scans on his knee on Monday, and could yet be in doubt for the trip to face Hawthorn at the MCG, while star midfielder Luke Shuey is pushing to return after two games out with a hamstring strain.
