West Coast coach John Worsfold says the hiding his side copped from Richmond on Sunday has shaken his belief in when his club can move into AFL premiership contention.

Until Sunday, Worsfold had steadfastly maintained his public confidence in his crop of youngsters being able to open a long-lasting premiership window from 2012 onwards.

But he conceded efforts like their 49-point loss to bottom-placed Richmond at the MCG could cause a reassessment.

"Of course, it raises serious questions about it," Worsfold said.

"If all of a sudden you think half the players out there today aren't really up to it, you've got to try to replace them and find them.

"We've got a few (potential replacements), but not a massive amount and a lot of them are kids as well coming through, so they're not going to be an instant fix."

Worsfold said he would not be writing off careers based on one game, but players were facing stern questions both from him and each other.

"They've got to stand up and be judged on what they delivered and be man enough to cop whatever they cop from it," he said.

Young key defender Eric Mackenzie will be one under scrutiny, after conceding four goals to Tigers star Jack Riewoldt in a five-and-a-half minute first quarter burst before being moved.

Athletic young ruckman Nic Naitanui, earmarked as a future star given some of the freakish skills he has displayed, was also a major disappointment, having almost no impact and looking uninterested at times.

But Worsfold hoped the down day could spur his players to prove they had more to offer.

"It doesn't really diminish what I think the club should be aiming for, which is to build a team that's good enough to win a premiership, not just to plug gaps to finish mid-table," he said.

"They've got to keep building from underneath and I'm committed to that for sure.

"It's disappointing, but who knows what a loss like today means for the future.

"Sometimes it can be the wake-up call that a lot of players need ... only time will tell."

The Eagles also had some injury concerns, late replacement Mark Nicoski dislocating a shoulder and Tom Swift a late withdrawal from the side with suspected appendicitis.

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