ADAM Simpson says West Coast's effort against Fremantle in Sunday's Western Derby was "unacceptable" but he isn't writing the season off just yet despite a mounting injury toll.

The Eagles were "annihilated" in a record opening term by the Dockers to trail by 52 points at quarter-time, which effectively killed off the contest.

The 30-point loss was compounded by an injury to another key defender with Jeremy McGovern likely to miss games due to a knee injury.

But Simpson refused to use that as an excuse.

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"We've got some difficulties with our management of our list with some injuries," Simpson said. 

"But today was unacceptable in that we just didn't turn up to play in that first 20 minutes or first full quarter. 

"So we'll look at that and try and rectify that but I wouldn't be writing the season off or going down a path like that at all." 

Simpson said McGovern would get his left knee scanned on Monday to confirm the extent of the injury but he said it was likely he would miss games.

The Eagles have already lost key defenders Eric Mackenzie and Mitch Brown to knee reconstructions this season, while Scott Selwood (ankle), Simon Tunbridge (ankle) and Xavier Ellis (hamstring) are still a number of weeks away from returning. 

Forward Jack Darling, who missed the entire pre-season with a foot injury, isn't expected to return for at least another month. 

But Simpson said the injury toll is irrelevant when his midfield performs so poorly.

"To be honest I think our backs are fighting pretty well," Simpson said. 

"When we don't deliver around the midfield and compete in that area, and it's not necessarily personnel, it's more intent, they are going to be put under the pump."

 

Click here to watch Adam Simpson's full post-match media conference

Simpson said he would keep faith with the playing group but stressed that his players needed to show better intent for the contest. 

"I'll always have faith in our playing group," Simpson said.

"We're young. It's no excuse but you could clearly see with some of the bodies we were going against that we weren't quite where we need to be.

"But the intent is the one that we'll look at and cracking in when we need to and the selection process, that'll take care of itself."