Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade promised to wield the axe after watching his AFL side slump to their most disappointing defeat under his tenure.

West Coast forward Josh Kennedy booted a career-high 10 goals and Luke Shuey tallied 27 possessions and five goals as the Eagles hammered the Bulldogs by 123 points.

The Bulldogs trailed by just 22 points at the 10-minute mark of the third quarter but conceded 17 of the next 18 goals in spiritless fashion to slump to the 26.19 (175) to 8.4 (52) defeat.

It left the Bulldogs (3-5) a worrying six points adrift of the top eight and 10 points adrift of the top-four ahead of tough assignments against Hawthorn, Geelong and St Kilda.

Eade, who refused to concede his team had approached the end of an era, said Adam Cooney, Brian Lake, Dylan Addison and Barry Hall would all come into strong contention next week.

But there could be more changes afoot after a performance that Eade rated as one of the worst he had presided over.

"This is probably up there (with most disappointing losses as coach)," Eade said.

"To capitulate like that was just unacceptable and is not what we stand for, what we are about and what we've shown the last three or four years.

"To not be able to do anything about it was actually embarrassing.

"We'll have another talk and there has to be some fallout as far as selection and the way we go about training goes.

"To have an effort like that for one and-a-half quarters was unacceptable."

Eade suggested some players had not been up to the task all season.

"Up until today I think without playing well and having quite a few key players out that we had hung in there reasonably OK to give ourselves a chance (in most games)," Eade said.

"And losing a couple of games by seven or eight points were games we would have, could have or should have won.

"Whether or not that was a precursor that some blokes are not there anymore or some aren't up to it, that might have been at its crescendo so we'll have to work that through."

In contrast, it was all smiles from West Coast coach John Worsfold, who looks certain to earn a contract extension at season's end after transforming last year's wooden spooners into a potential top-four threat.

"We all have our turns," Worsfold said about the heat placed on coaches when the going gets tough.

"Some escape, but very few go through periods where the team is not travelling that well (and survive).

"Do I enjoy the pats on the back I get at the moment? Well it's better than getting kicked in the guts.

"But it doesn't change my focus.

"It's still pretty straight down the line and as I've said all along we want to improve this year with the aim of building this team up to be even better this year and the year after."

Worsfold said Sunday's clash with defending premiers Collingwood at the MCG would give his side the best indication of where they sat in the large scheme of things.

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