Because as bad as West Coast was at times last season, it only missed out on playing finals by three wins and a some percentage. And the Eagles lost three games in 2013 due to kicking inaccuracy, having had more shots on goal than their opposition.

One of them, coincidentally, was in round five against Port Adelaide, when West Coast lost by five points (10.19 to 12.12) even though it had five more scoring shots.

The other two were against Carlton in round four (7.23 to 12.17) and against Essendon in round 14 (13.13 to 15.8).

No matter how complicated game plans get, a side still has to score more than its opposition to win and claim four premiership points. That will never change.

On Saturday night, the Eagles had one more scoring shot than Port, despite having the disadvantage of 22 less inside forward 50 entries.

Port Adelaide kicked 10.10 (70) to West Coast’s 7.14 (56).

“It speaks for itself, doesn't it?” Eagles coach Adam Simpson said after the game.

“More scoring shots, you lose the game. No one likes to see that stat.”

And it’s not as if the Eagles failed to get the ball to the right people.

Their tall forward targets had plenty of the ball - Jack Darling had 19 possessions and Josh Kennedy 14, but they kicked 2.3 and 1.5 respectively.

On the scoreboard, the third term probably looked the worst, with West Coast kicking 1.4 to the Power’s 2.1. But a lot of the damage was done in the opening term.

The Eagles kicked 2.5 (at one stage they were 0.4). Port was only marginally better, with 3.5.

In that first quarter Darling kicked 0.1 (hit the post) and Kennedy kicked 1.2, including one miss that he dribbled along the ground from close range when running into an open goal.

Elliot Yeo also kicked one out of bounds on the full after taking three bounces and carrying the ball inside 50. That isn't captured among stats as a shot on goal.

“I wish I could say we do more goalkicking, but we do goalkicking every session,” Simpson said. “We didn't take our chances early.

“I'd like to know the stats on how many set shots and how many snaps, but I don't think you see JK (Kennedy) kick 1.5, it doesn't happen very often.

“I don't think it's a pattern with him.

“But we'll just continue to do what we're doing. We're progressing.

“We've got a bigger picture focus. I saw some really good signs across the board. If goal kicking is the last thing we get right, then that's the last thing we get right.”

Kennedy had kicked 9.4 before Saturday night’s game.

And in fairness, he did kick 60 goals last season and was looking good to collect the Coleman Medal late in the season. However, he failed to boot a goal in the final three games of the season.

And even though he starred in attack for the Eagles, his goalkicking was often in the spotlight because of his exaggerated stutter in his run-up.

A stutter that appears to be disappearing.

“I think he's working pretty hard on getting that right,” Simpson said.

“I don't think it's a problem. He's a very accurate goalkicker normally, so he's working with our forward line and development coaches on that.”

2013 losses when having more shots on goal

Round                              WCE       OPP       margin                  Darling                  Kennedy

2014

5 v Port Adelaide              7.14        10.10     -14                          2.3                          1.5

                                                                Season (so far)         11.10                     10.9

2013

4 v Carlton                           7.23        12.17     -24                       1.2                          0.2

5 v Port Adelaide              10.19     12.12     -5                            1.1                          4.0

14 v Essendon                   13.13     15.8        -7                            2.2                          2.2

                                                                Season                      42.27                     60.23

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