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Eagles fadeouts costly: Kennedy

Josh Kennedy says poor skills and execution were to blame for Saturday’s shock fadeout against Carlton at Etihad Stadium and not a lack of urgency.

The Eagles were 24 points up with about 10 minutes left in the game, but they allowed the Blues to pile on five unanswered goals to slump to their third successive loss.

It was the second week in a row that an opposition has booted five of the final six goals of the match against the Eagles.

Conversion was again an issue against Carlton, with the visitors managing just 1.8 in the last quarter.

“Our execution and skill level probably wasn’t up to standard when it mattered,” Kennedy said.

“In the end it cost us the game.

“It didn’t feel like it (our urgency dropped off) out there.

“I think they use the footy pretty well – they’re a skilful team. They were able to carve through us from one end to the other.

“We had a bit of the ball. We had our chances, I suppose to either get a mark inside-50 or get a shot off and kick a goal. In the end when it mattered, we just didn’t do it.”

West Coast could lay just five tackles against Carlton in the final term, but Kennedy said fitness wasn’t an issue leading into a crunch western derby against Fremantle at Patersons Stadium this Sunday.

“We’d turn the ball over and we were out of position,” he said. “We’re then not in a really good position to chase down and tackle.”