BROWNLOW medallist Matthew Priddis needs more help in the midfield, says West Coast coach Adam Simpson.
Priddis racked up 20 contested possessions but no other Eagle had more than eight in their eight-point loss to Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
The veteran midfielder averages 18 a match with Luke Shuey the next best this season with 11 per game.
The Dogs smashed the Eagles in contested possessions, racking up 39 more (153-119).
"No doubt (Priddis needs more help)," Simpson said after the eight-point loss.
"Priddis will fight all day, but we probably missed a couple of soldiers today inside."
The Dogs controlled much of the game with their ability to win the ball, which Simpson said was pivotal in the final result.
"There's some numbers that were really disturbing with the contested ball," he said.
"The way they managed to flick it around and (their) possession rate, we knew that was going to happen.
"If we had have won, we would have stolen it. But it would've been a good steal."
Simpson said the Dogs' dominance this season at contested ball situations meant he would have been willing to concede that category by a small margin, but not by 39.
The Bulldogs are the No.1 team in the competition for contested ball differential.
"They've been doing it all year," Simpson said.
"There's more than one way to win a game. Their way was good, today.
"I think the discrepancy you cop sometimes, because you're doing different things to try and win, but when it blows out to that level, it felt like we were just hanging on for most of the day."
WATCH: Adam Simpson's full post-match media conference
Ruckman Nic Naitanui suffered a broken nose but Simpson expects him to line up against Adelaide next Saturday at Domain Stadium.
Defender Jeremy McGoven was a late out with a viral infection but should also be available to face the Crows.
Inefficiency in attack was an issue for the Eagles, especially early. They registered 4.4 in the opening term, with Jack Redden missing a dribble attempt running into an open goal and Shuey kicking two behinds.
"We had 18 inside 50s in the first quarter I think, which we didn't capitalise on," Simpson said.
"We're normally pretty efficient going inside our 50."
Despite the disappointing result, Simpson said his side is well placed in its bid for a finals tilt.
"The last 10 minutes probably showed we can lift our intensity," he said.
"I feel like we've got another level we can get to this year. We took a small step forward today, even though we didn't win."
