West Coast coach Andrew McQualter knows he has a challenge ahead to get his side up and going from the very first bounce of games.

The Eagles trailed Adelaide by 29 points at quarter-time at Optus Stadium on Friday night and lost by 25 points.

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The Crows kicked nine of the first 11 goals of the game.

But a slow start has cost the Eagles more than just this game this season.

They have trailed at the first break in 13 of their 16 games.

Friday night was the sixth of those games where the deficit has been four goals or more.

The coach said there were multiple reasons why it’s happening.

“It’s been a problem for sure, and we need to figure it out quickly, because there’s not an easy answer,” he said.

“There’s not one answer.

“There’s always been different reasons as to why, but ultimately we need to be in the game more at quarter time.

“I think we’ve proven to be a pretty strong running team now, and our ability to finish games is strong, which is an improvement.

“But yeah, too often it’s been from behind the eight ball.”

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McQualter is right. His side certainly finishes games better than they start.

The Eagles have been behind in 14 of their 16 games this season.

But they have lost only seven second halves. And two of those, against Richmond in round 8 and Melbourne in round 9, were by just one point.

On Friday night, they trailed Adelaide by 43 points during the second quarter, but dragged the margin back to just 18 during the last quarter.

They won the second half by five points.

And while the Eagles are stuck on just four wins for the season, Friday night was their fifth loss by less than five goals.

McQualter said the second-half fightback against the Crows, who will likely finish the round in fifth spot on the ladder, just percentage outside of the top four, is a good sign.

“I think in the past, that game gets really a long way away from us,” he said.

“But the growth of our team is to fight.

“And we gave ourselves a chance to win that game, which is somewhat pleasing in that aspect.

“But we just can’t give any team a lead like that.”