West Coast coach Adam Simpson says it feels like a bit of a waste after watching his team's finals campaign come to an abrupt end for the second year in a row.
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The Eagles' flag hopes were extinguished on Saturday night when they suffered a shock one-point loss to Collingwood in a pulsating elimination final.
The result follows on from last year's exit during the semi-finals.
In each of those years West Coast were considered a massive premiership threat, only to miss out on a top-four berth on percentage.
Last year, a final-round loss at home to Hawthorn saw the 2018 premiers tumble out of the top four.
This season, an early three-game losing streak during their first Queensland hub campaign put them on the back foot, but it was the two-point loss to the Bulldogs in round 16 that proved decisive.
Simpson said they had no one to blame but themselves.
"It hurts, but that's on us. Two years in a row we missed out on top four through percentage," Simpson said.
"If you look back on our year, other than (the loss to Collingwood on Saturday), we only lost two games after round five.
"We lost three in a row earlier in the year and we lost by plenty, and that hurt out percentage.
"I suppose those three games we played early in the year when we didn't get our act together hurt us."
Simpson was proud of the way his players "stuck fat" during the year, and he was sad they weren't duly rewarded.
"Every club has sacrificed a lot to put this show on the road," Simpson said.
"Players are playing for half of their salary, we had to stand down a third of our staff and it has been an emotional rollercoaster really and it is really disappointing that you don't have anything to show for it.
"It hurts a little bit more the fact that you put so much effort into this season.
"Every club will be feeling the same if they don't win the flag this season. It almost feels like a bit of a waste but I am still proud of what we have done."
Veterans Josh Kennedy and Shannon Hurn are out of contract, but Simpson said the 33-year-olds deserve the chance to play on next year.
"It's sensitive when we start talking about legends of the club, but I think both of those guys have more than done enough to look to next year," Simpson said.
"We've got to talk to them and see what they want to do."
West Coast's squad still boasts a glut of stars in the prime of their careers and Simpson is confident the group will continue to grow.
Australian Associated Press
