WEST Coast has another gear to go to despite one of its best performances of the season in beating North Melbourne on Sunday, coach Adam Simpson says. 

The Eagles finally beat a top-eight team at the sixth time of asking this season, and did so with a very complete four-quarter effort at Domain Stadium.

Simpson was satisfied with his team's win but said there was plenty of improvement still to be made.

"The four-quarter performance, the opposition, and the brand we played I thought was pretty good," Simpson said post-match.

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"But I think we've still got another gear to go to.

"There was points in the game where we let it slip. Even halfway through the last quarter it just felt uncomfortable. We need to work on some things."

The Eagles led by 46 points early in the last term after kicking five consecutive goals, but they conceded the next three to keep North Melbourne in the hunt before icing the game late.

The Eagles now sit fifth on the ladder, just one game shy of the top-four with matches to come against Carlton, Melbourne, Collingwood and Fremantle over the next month.

Two of those games are at the MCG. The Eagles have only played there once this season, losing to Hawthorn in round two by the same margin they lost the Grand Final just six months earlier.

Simpson was very keen to bank some wins at the MCG.

"We haven't played well there since Richmond last year," Simpson said.  

WATCH Adam Simpson's full media conference

"We had a really good win against the Tigers on a Friday night, but the games we've played since, we've been pretty disappointing.

"We're looking forward to that challenge.

"I just want to get the wins (at the MCG). Experience there is a bonus. But let's get the wins, hey."

Simpson was very pleased with the performance of ruckman Scott Lycett against Todd Goldstein. Last year's All Australian ruckman had 65 hit-outs but the Kangaroos did not have a major ascendency at the clearances.

Mitch Brown also pinch-hit as the back-up ruckman for the second-straight game, but it was Lycett's efforts that caught Simpson's eye. 

"We were really happy with Scott, really happy," Simpson said.

"He's come from a second ruck position, obviously we were missing Nic (Naitanui), he's taken on more and more responsibility and he never gave up today.

"There was good physicality from both sides against both ruckmen in and around the contest and I thought both of them stood up really well. But I was really happy with Scott. It was a step forward for him today."

The Eagles escaped without injury and will face Carlton next Sunday with a pretty healthy list to choose from.