A disappointed West Coast coach Andrew McQualter says every element of his side’s game — including their spirit — was affected by their poor goal-kicking in their disheartening nine-point loss to Richmond.

The Eagles entered Sunday’s clash with the last-placed Tigers at the MCG pegged as the favourites, having put together a recent run of form marked by credible performances against finals-chasing teams.

But sustained failures to make the most of the chances they created for themselves in attack meant they were not able to frank their progress by securing their fifth victory of the season.

McQualter described the result as “incredibly disappointing and frustrating”.

“We had could have been a large portion up on the scoreboard, and we’re not, and it’s deflating. Bad kicking is bad football, at the end of the day,” McQualter said.

“We weren’t able to capitalise on our shots, and we left a gap, we left an opening three-quarter time, and they played a bit better in the last quarter, and we didn’t get the job done.

“It felt like all game, particularly the first three quarters, everything was on our terms. We were playing the right way, we played the way we wanted to, we had them playing a slow, wide game, and unfortunately, we just couldn’t capitalise on any of it.

“Even in the last quarter, they did have some territory, particularly from centre bounce. We still gave ourselves a chance late in the game, but we just couldn’t get any clean looks.

“I think the deflating part is when you’re struggling to score, you give up easy goals — free kicks against, (50-metre penalties) against. It really takes away your your spirit, whether that’s conscious or unconscious, it’s what happens.”

Despite a defeat which extended his side’s run of consecutive losses out to eight games, McQualter remained bullish the Eagles are on the right track.

“We aim to win every game. The way we’re playing, the longer we play together, and the better understanding (we get) of each other, we will win a lot of games of football. We are setting these players up to win finals, and I truly believe that’s where we’re headed,” he said.

“But there’s some pain about our ability to close out these games at the moment.

“We’ve been in, let’s say, another six games where we could have won this year. Maybe, it (could) all different. Maybe (we get) the momentum, like the Blues have got at the moment, right? They win a couple of these games, and all of a sudden, it flows.

“It’s not far away for us, that part. We’ve got the game looking, for the most part, the way we want it to.

“We believe we’re playing the right way and we’re going in the right direction, but it has to turn.”

Last year’s top draft selection Willem Duursma was visibly emotional in the moments after the final siren sounded and was consoled by his fellow No.1 draft pick Harley Reid.

McQualter said he hoped the result was hurting for all of his players.

“Losing sucks. We’ve lost too much,” McQualter said.

“We’re putting in an enormous amount of effort. These guys are working their butts off. The coaches are working their butts off.

“I keep talking to them — even today, all day, I’m like, ‘boys, it’ll turn. This scoreboard will turn for you. You’re doing the right things’.

“We’ve got to ensure that we keep teaching them the right way to play and building the belief in it, and they’ve got to keep doing the work.”