West Coast need to do more to support Harley Reid when the rising star is in the sights of a tagger, according to sidelined defender Brandon Starcevich.

The 20-year-old’s impact was quelled by Sydney stopper James Jordon in the Eagles’ 128-point thumping on Saturday night, with his 17 disposals including only two score involvements and one disposals.

As his frustration grew over the course of the game, he also gave away two free kicks which led directly to goals, firstly for failing to return the ball to ruckman Brodie Grundy after a free kick and later for remonstrating with the Swans after Angus Sheldrick’s elbow to the head of Reuben Ginbey.

On Monday, Eagles coach Andrew McQualter told 7NEWS the AFL had come to the club and said the second of the free kicks was paid in error.

Starcevich said sidelined midfielders Elliot Yeo and Deven Robertson were badly missed in a number of areas over the course of the night, but particularly in providing Reid some assistance in dealing with the extra attention.

“It was pretty tough for Harley on Saturday. He probably didn’t get a whole lot of help, which is something that, as a team, we need to focus on when Harley’s got a bit of attention,” Starcevich told 6PR.

“If anyone’s got a tag or someone going with them, it’s important to try and help them out a bit.

“Harley’s still learning how to deal with that as well, so there’s plenty for him to learn, but plenty for us to learn as a group as to how we can support him through it.”

Starcevich said he was not sure what approach Andrew McQualter would take to today’s review but there was “a lot to learn” from the game.

“Coming off the last few weeks, I thought we’d built a bit of momentum, but it was a disappointing performance,” he said.

“The last couple of weeks, we have given teams a start and been able to reel them back in, but you do that too often and good sides will put the hammer down and make sure you don’t get another sniff. Credit to the Swans, they were awesome early and that set the game up for them.”

Starcevich said his build-up from a calf injury had remained cautious and he was hoping to return around the mid-season mark.