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West Coast Eagles

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West Coast Eagles
Names
Full nameWest Coast Eagles Football Club[1]
Nickname(s)Eagles
Indigenous rounds: Waalitj Marawar
2024 season
Home-and-away seasonAFL: 16th
AFLW: -
WAFL: 10th
Leading goalkickerAFL: Jake Waterman (53 goals)
AFLW: Grace Kelly (7 goals)
Club details
Founded20 October 1986
ColoursRoyal blue, gold
   
CompetitionAFL: Senior men
AFLW: Senior women
WAFL: Reserves men
OwnersWest Australian Football Commission (WAFC)
ChairmanPaul Fitzpatrick
CEODon Pyke
CoachAFL: Andrew McQualter
AFLW: Daisy Pearce
WAFL: kyal horsley
Captain(s)AFL: Oscar Allen and Liam Duggan
AFLW: Emma Swanson
WAFL: Jackson Nelson
Number-one ticket holder(s)Jan Cooper[2]
PremiershipsAFL (4)
Ground(s)AFL: Optus Stadium (61,266)
AFLW/WAFL: Mineral Resources Park (6,500)
Former ground(s)WACA Ground (1987–2000)
Subiaco Oval (1987–2017)
Training ground(s)Mineral Resources Park
Uniforms
Home
Away
Clash
Other information
Official websiteWestCoastEagles.com.au

The West Coast Eagles are a professional Australian rules football club based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and first competed in 1987 as one of two expansion teams in the Australian Football League (AFL), then known as the Victorian Football League. The club plays its home games at Optus Stadium and has its headquarters at Lathlain Park. The West Australian Football Commission wholly owns the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Football Club, the AFL's other Western Australian team.

The West Coast Eagles are one of the most successful clubs in the AFL era (1990 onwards). They have won the equal second most premierships (four, along with Geelong and second to Hawthorn) of any club in that time and were the first non-Victorian team to compete in and win an AFL Grand Final, achieving the latter feat in 1992. The Eagles have since won premierships in 1994, 2006 and 2018. They are one of the most profitable and influential clubs in the league, and as of 2021 have more members than any other club with over 106,000.[3][4][5]

West Coast also fields a women's team in the AFLW competition and a reserves team in the WAFL.

History

[edit]
Main article: History of the West Coast Eagles
See also: Australian rules football in Western Australia
Chart of yearly ladder positions for West Coast in AFL
West Coast Eagles seasons
Year No. P W D L %
1987 8th 22 11 0 11 97.87
1988 4th 23 13 0 10 111.85
1989 11th 22 7 0 15 86.69
1990 3rd 26 17 1 8 118.44
1991 1st 26 21 0 5 162.21
1992 4th 25 18 1 6 125.91
1993 6th 22 13 0 9 115.81
1994 1st 25 19 0 6 132.19
1995 5th 24 14 0 10 122.87
1996 4th 24 16 0 8 125.20
1997 5th 24 13 0 11 111.24
1998 7th 23 12 0 11 109.42
1999 5th 24 13 0 11 106.76
2000 13th 22 7 1 14 92.37
2001 14th 22 5 0 17 65.95
2002 8th 23 11 0 12 97.96
2003 7th 23 12 2 9 117.36
2004 7th 23 13 0 10 103.76
2005 2nd 25 19 0 6 123.96
2006 1st 26 20 0 6 120.44
2007 3rd 24 15 0 9 111.73
2008 15th 22 4 0 18 65.88
2009 11th 22 8 0 14 93.30
2010 16th 22 4 0 18 77.09
2011 4th 25 18 0 7 130.32
2012 5th 24 16 0 8 124.18
2013 13th 22 9 0 13 95.28
2014 9th 22 11 0 11 116.86
2015 2nd 25 18 1 6 148.20
2016 6th 23 16 0 7 130.00
2017 8th 24 13 0 11 105.71
2018 2nd 25 19 0 6 121.40
2019 5th 24 16 0 8 112.5
2020 5th 18 12 0 6 117.04
2021 9th 22 10 0 12 93.2
2022 17th 22 2 0 20 59.8
2023 18th 23 3 0 20 53.0

1986–1989: Formation and first years

[edit]

The West Coast Eagles were selected in 1986 as one of two expansion teams to enter the Victorian Football League (VFL) the following season, along with the Brisbane Bears.[6] Ron Alexander was appointed as the team's inaugural coach in September 1986, with the inaugural squad, comprising a majority of players from the West Australian Football League (WAFL), unveiled in late October. The Eagles benefitted from a strong WAFL competition and very loose transfer restrictions relative to later expansion teams, with early success seen as a key factor to promoting the new national competition.[7] Ross Glendinning, recruited from North Melbourne, was made the club's first captain as one of the few players with previous VFL experience. The team's first senior match in the VFL was played against Richmond at Subiaco Oval in late March 1987, with West Coast defeating Richmond by 14 points.[8] Having won eleven games and lost eleven games for the season, the club finished eighth out of fourteen teams. At the end of the season, John Todd, the coach of Swan Districts in the WAFL, replaced Alexander as West Coast's coach.[9] The club made the finals for the first time in 1988, but lost form the following season, winning only seven games to finish 11th on the ladder.[10]

1990–1999: Malthouse era and dual premierships

[edit]

Todd was sacked at the end of the 1989 season, and was replaced by Mick Malthouse, who had previously coached Footscray.[11] With the competition having rebranded itself as the Australian Football League (AFL) at the start of the 1990 season, West Coast finished third on the ladder at the conclusion of the home-and-away season, and progressed to the preliminary final before losing to Essendon, having been forced to play four consecutive finals in Melbourne.[12]

Michael Gardiner contests a boundary throw-in against Collingwood during the 2005 season.

John Worsfold replaced Steve Malaxos as captain for the 1991 season, and the club finished the season as minor premiers for the first time, losing only three games.[6] In the finals series, West Coast progressed to the grand final, but were defeated by Hawthorn by 53 points. Peter Sumich kicked 111 goals during the season, becoming the first West Coast player to reach a century of goals, as well as the first-ever left-footer.[13] In 1992, West Coast finished fourth on the ladder, but again progressed to the grand final, defeating Geelong by 28 points to become the first team based outside Victoria to win a premiership.[14] Having slipped to third in 1993, the club finished as minor premiers the following season, and went on to again defeat Geelong in the grand final to win its second premiership in three years.[15] In 1995, a second AFL team based in Western Australia, the Fremantle Football Club, with the two clubs' subsequent rivalry branded as the "Western Derby".[16] West Coast made the finals in every year that remained in the 1990s, but failed to reach another grand final, with a fourth-place finish in 1996 their best result.[10] Worsfold retired at the end of the 1998 season, and was replaced by his vice-captain, Guy McKenna, who served as captain until his retirement two seasons later.[17]

2000–2005: Struggles, rebuild and Worsfold era

[edit]

Malthouse left West Coast at the end of the 1999 season to take up the senior coaching position with Collingwood, and was replaced by Ken Judge, who had been coach of Hawthorn.[18] The 2000 and 2001 seasons were marked by a rapid decrease in form after the loss of several key senior players, culminating in a 14th-place in 2001, at the time the worst in the club's history. Round eighteen of the 2000 season marked the club's final match at the WACA Ground, which had been used concurrently with Subiaco Oval since the club's inception.[19] Judge was sacked on 5 September 2001, just days after a 112-point loss to Port Adelaide, their 10th loss in 2001 by over 60 points. He was replaced by the club's former captain John Worsfold, who had been serving as assistant coach at Carlton.[20]

The club made the finals in 2002, 2003, and 2004, but each time failed to progress past the elimination final.[10] Ben Cousins was made sole captain of the club in 2002, having shared the role with Dean Kemp the previous season.[9] During this time, the team was boosted by a number of high picks in the AFL draft gained as a result of the previous poor finishes. Chris Judd, who had been taken with pick three in the 2001 National draft, won the Brownlow Medal as the best player in the competition in 2004, becoming the first West Coast player to win the award.[21] In 2005, the Eagles won 15 of their first 16 games, and were 20 points clear on top of the ladder at stages, but they eventually slipped to second behind Adelaide. They progressed to the grand final against Sydney, where they were defeated by four points.[22] Chris Judd received the Norm Smith Medal.

For the second consecutive year, the Brownlow Medal was won by an Eagles player, with Ben Cousins and Daniel Kerr finishing first and second, respectively.[23]

2006–2010: Third premiership, controversies and final misses

[edit]

West Coast finished as minor premiers for a third time in 2006, with seventeen wins from 22 games.[24] In the 2006 finals series, the club lost the qualifying final to Sydney by one point, but after defeating the Western Bulldogs and the Adelaide Crows in the semi- and preliminary final, respectively, again progressed to the grand final, where the Eagles defeated Sydney by a point in an exact reversal of the score in the qualifying final.[25] The two grand finals in 2005 and 2006 were part of a series of close games between the two clubs that resulted in a total difference of thirteen points across six games, an AFL record.[26]

Daniel Chick and Tyson Stenglein in a marking contest against Sydney in the 2005 Grand Final.

The club finished third during the regular 2007 season, but after a series of late-season injuries lost both its games during the final series. During the past few seasons, the club had been impacted by a series of highly publicised off-field controversies involving allegations of recreational drug use, nightclub assaults, and links to outlawed motorcycle gangs. Michael Gardiner was traded after crashing his car while drunk, and Ben Cousins resigned the captaincy of the club prior to the 2006 season after being charged with evading a police breath test, with Chris Judd taking over as captain. Cousins was sacked at the end of the 2007 season after being arrested for possession of drugs,[27] while Judd requested to be traded back to Victoria, and was traded to Carlton in exchange for a key forward, Josh Kennedy, and several draft picks.[28] Darren Glass, the club's full-back since the retirement of Ashley McIntosh in 2003, was then appointed captain.[29] These controversies were followed by a series of poor seasons on-field, culminating in the club's first wooden spoon, after winning only four games in 2010.[30] The three-year period between 2008 and 2010 was the longest time in the club's history without a finals appearance.

2011–2013: Breakthrough years

[edit]

Despite predictions of another bottom-four finish in 2011, West Coast won 16 games to finish in the top four, becoming the first team since the Brisbane Lions in 1998 and 1999 to reach a preliminary final after finishing last the previous season.[31]

West Coast's strong form continued into 2012, losing the 2012 NAB Cup grand final to Adelaide and spending the early part of the season on top of the table. They eventually finished fifth and bowed out in the semi-finals to Collingwood.[32][33] The Eagles went into 2013 as premiership favourites, although injuries and poor form saw the club finish in thirteenth position on the ladder, with the club losing its final three games by an average of 71 points.[34][35] Coach John Worsfold resigned on 5 September 2013.[32]

Round 20 2014 – West Coast vs Collingwood at Subiaco Oval

2014–2024: Simpson era, fourth premiership and downfall

[edit]

Former North Melbourne player Adam Simpson was announced as the team's new coach for the 2014 season.[32] Darren Glass was initially renamed as captain, but retired from football after round 12.[36] He was replaced by five acting co-captains for the remainder of the season – Shannon Hurn, Josh Kennedy, Eric Mackenzie, Matt Priddis, and Scott Selwood.[37] West Coast had a strong preseason and won their opening three matches, although they eventually finished in ninth position.[38] During the season the club were labelled as "flat track bullies" due to beating lower placed teams by large margins, yet failing to defeat teams above them on the ladder.[39] Midfielder Matt Priddis became the third Eagles player to win a Brownlow medal, winning the 2014 medal at the end of the season.[40]

On 7 December 2014, Shannon Hurn was appointed as sole captain for 2015 and beyond.[41] At the start of the 2015 season, West Coast lost two of their opening three games and suffered injuries to key players. Despite this, they went on to lose only three more games for the rest of the home and away season, finishing behind local rivals Fremantle in second position.[42] The Eagles went on to defeat Hawthorn and North Melbourne in the qualifying and preliminary finals by 32 and 25 points respectively to qualify for the 2015 Grand Final, their first since 2006, only to lose to Hawthorn by 46 points. The following season ended up being a disappointment, with the team failing to produce another top 4 finish in spite of a late form reversal. In their elimination final, the heavily favoured Eagles were defeated at home by the Western Bulldogs, who went on to claim the 2016 premiership.[43]

In 2017, West Coast finished in eighth position on the table. A thrilling finish against Adelaide in the last game at Subiaco was enough to put them into their third consecutive finals series under Simpson. Their percentage of 105.7% edged out Melbourne, who finished with the same number of wins and an almost identical percentage of 105.2%. Remarkably, their elimination final away against Port Adelaide ended up a tie after regulation time and was sent to extra time. The Eagles controversially won after the siren courtesy of a Luke Shuey goal. The following week they were soundly defeated away by Greater Western Sydney, in front of the lowest finals crowd in over 100 years.

Few predicted West Coast would contend in season 2018, with most having them outside the 8. After losing the inaugural game at the new Optus Stadium against the Sydney Swans, West Coast went on to win 10 in a row to surge to top of the ladder, including defeating Hawthorn at Etihad and Richmond, the eventual minor premiers. However, injuries to star forwards Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling saw them struggle, losing 3 games in a row including to Sydney for a second this time at the SCG. Despite injuries, they managed to rebound and stabilise. The Eagles' form at the MCG had long been criticised, and round 17 against an in-form Collingwood who had won 7 of the previous matches was seen as a stern test. The match was fairly close throughout, until the Eagles got on top in the last ten minutes of the third quarter to win by a commanding 35 points. The victory was bittersweet, however, as the All-Australian ruckman Nic Naitanui went down with an ACL for the second time after his 2016 injury, putting him out for the rest of the season. In round 20 star midfielder Andrew Gaff was suspended for 8 weeks for a hit on Fremantle player Andrew Brayshaw. Following this many dismissed the Eagles, believing they were unable to win the flag. The following week there was a bright spot in a dark period, as Jeremy McGovern kicked a goal after the siren at Adelaide Oval to pinch the game from Port Adelaide, in similar circumstances to West Coast's win over Port in the 2017 elimination final.

The Eagles finished the 2018 home and away season second on the ladder with 16 wins and 6 losses – their best result since 2006 – earning the right to host the second qualifying final against third-placed Collingwood at Optus Stadium. Collingwood led for most of the close, hard-fought match, before the Eagles again pulled away in the last quarter to win by 16 points.

In the 2018 second preliminary final, the Eagles faced the fifth-placed Melbourne Demons, a team whose impressive end-of-season form had begun with a victory over the Eagles at Optus Stadium in round 22. What was touted as a close-fought match instead became a blowout. West Coast led 10.9.69 to 0.6.6 at half time, Melbourne becoming the first team since 1927 to fail to score a goal in a half of finals football.[44] West Coast eventually won by 66 points, 121 to 55.

In the 2018 grand final, West Coast again played Collingwood, who had upset Richmond in the first preliminary final the week prior. In a match dubbed an all-time classic,[45] Collingwood led by as much as 29 points in the first quarter, but the resilient Eagles managed to claw their way back into the contest, and with just over 2 minutes left, a brilliant play set up by a Jeremy McGovern intercept mark and a further sensational mark by first year player Liam Ryan saw Dom Sheed score a goal from a tight angle to put the Eagles 4 points in front. The Eagles went on to win 79 to 74, claiming their fourth premiership in front of 100,022 at the MCG. Luke Shuey won the Norm Smith Medal.

The Eagles started their 2019 premiership defence in indifferent fashion, suffering three heavy defeats in the first six weeks of the 2019 season. The reigning premiers recovered magnificently, winning 12 of their next fourteen matches, but missed out on a spot in the top four after an upset 38-point loss to Hawthorn in round 23. The Eagles finished fifth on the AFL ladder with a 15–7 win-loss record. They thrashed Essendon by 55 points in the first elimination final but their premiership defence was brought to a premature end the following week, losing to minor premiers Geelong by 20 points in the first semi-final.

The 2020 season began with a lacklustre win over Melbourne in Round 1 in March, after which followed a hiatus due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 virus. Games resumed in June, with West Coast playing their games in a Queensland hub environment, going 0–3 in June to begin Round 5 in 16th place. From there, West Coast recovered to sit in 5th place with a record of 12–5 at the end of Round 18. Despite being undefeated at their Perth home ground during the regular season, the Eagles bowed out in the first week of the finals after an upset one-point defeat to Collingwood in the first elimination final at Optus Stadium.

Subiaco Oval during a match against Fremantle in the 2008 NAB Cup.

The 2021 season proved to be the end of a successful era for the Eagles. West Coast struggled to find their best form throughout the year and ultimately missed the finals for the first time since 2014, finishing ninth on the ladder with 10 wins and 12 losses. With crosstown rival Fremantle finishing 11th, it was the first season since 2009 that neither Western Australian team featured in the finals series.

COVID and an extensive injury list saw many key players sidelined and West Coast's performance decline rapidly over the next two years. The 2022 season saw the Eagles finish 17th on the ladder with 2 wins and 20 losses, avoiding the wooden spoon by percentage. The 2023 season was West Coast's worst season in history, losing five games by more than 100 points on the way to an 18th-placed finish with 3 wins and 20 losses, thus claiming the second wooden spoon in the club's history.

On 9 July 2024, following no improvement in on-field performances despite the best player availability in three seasons, the club announced that Adam Simpson had been sacked as coach.[46]

Finance and ownership

[edit]

The West Coast Eagles have been owned by the West Australian Football Commission (WAFC) since 1989. The club was originally owned and operated by Indian Pacific Limited, a publicly listed company that was delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange in 1990 after 75% of the shares were bought out by the WAFC.[47] The last minority shareholders were bought out in 2000. During the 2010s West Coast paid approximately $3 million in rent to the WAFC for the use of Subiaco Oval, and 50–70% of overall profits.[48] In 2001, a South African investment company, Southern African Investments Limited, had proposed a AUD$25-million deal for a 49-percent stake in the club, with the bid being rejected in 2003.[49] In 2011, it was reported that the AFL had lobbied to take over the ownership of both the Eagles and the Fremantle Football Club from the WAFC.[50]

In 2023, the West Coast Eagles reported a $1.9 million operating surplus.[51]

Membership and attendance

[edit]
Number-one ticket-holders
Years Name Occupation
1993–1994 Denis McInerney Car dealer
1995–1996 Ernie Dingo Television personality
1997–1998 Geoff Christian Sports journalist
1999–2000 Ray Turner Businessman
2001–2002 Tony Evans Former footballer
2003–2004 Dennis Lillee Former cricketer
2005–2006 Jeff Newman Television personality
2007–2008 Nigel Satterley Businessman
2009–2010 Ross Glendinning Former footballer
2011–2012 Michael Brennan Former footballer
2013–2014 Rod Moore Club Doctor
2015–2016 Daniel Ricciardo F1 Driver
2017–2018 Julie Bishop Politician
2019–2020 Sam Kerr Soccer player
2021–2022 Robert Wiley Former footballer

Membership

[edit]

In 2011, the West Coast Eagles had 54,745 members, which was a club record at the time, and the fourth-highest overall in the AFL. Membership numbers were limited by the capacity of Subiaco Oval, which held 43,500 seats, with 39,000 reserved exclusively for club members. In 2012, the cost of an adult club membership was $283, the most of any club in the AFL.[52] At that time, the waiting list was in excess of 20,000 people, or around four years.[53] In July 2015, the club reached a record high of more than 60,000 members, which was the highest for a club in Western Australia, as well as being the sixth highest in the league.[54]

Membership expanded rapidly after the club moved its home games to Optus Stadium and won the 2018 premiership. In 2019, the club reached 90,445 members, becoming the second club in history to pass the 90,000 mark and having the second highest membership in the competition.[55] The club recorded more members than any other AFL team in 2020 (100,776)[56] and 2021 (106,422).[57]

Attendance

[edit]

The highest individual crowd to watch a West Coast game at Optus Stadium is 59,608 which was between West Coast and Melbourne in the preliminary final of 2018.[58] The highest-attended home game at Subiaco Oval was against North Melbourne in the 2012 elimination final, which was attended by 41,790 people.[58]

In 2011, 455,899 people attended West Coast home games, equating to an average of 37,992 people per game.[59] In 2018, West Coast had the second highest home ground attendance of any AFL club, averaging 53,250 for its 11 home games (the highest was Richmond, which averaged 61,175).

The highest attendance for any game featuring West Coast was against Collingwood in the 2018 grand final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, attended by 100,022 people. In terms of television audience, on average 519,000 people viewed West Coast Eagles games in 2011, with a high of 1,074,000 viewers for the round 16 game against Geelong.[60]

Number one ticket holder

[edit]

The number-one ticket holder is a position in most AFL clubs give to a well-known supporter of the club. West Coast's website lists "longevity of service", "passion for the club", "contribution to the community of Western Australia" and "the level at which they are recognised in their chosen profession by the community" as criteria for the position.[61] Number-one ticket holders generally serve for two years.

Club identity

[edit]

Symbols and uniform

[edit]

West Coast's official colours are royal blue and gold. The club had previously used navy blue in place of royal blue between 1995 and 2017, but returned to the club's original colours prior to the 2018 season.[62]

West Coast's eagle mascot Rick "The Rock"
The club's original logo, used from 1987 to 1999. An older shield variation of this logo also exists.
The club's logo used from 1 October 1999 to 1 November 2017

The club's current logo features the head of a wedge-tailed eagle in the royal blue and gold colours of the club with the words "West Coast Eagles" written underneath. It was introduced prior to the 2018 season and aimed to present a more realistic portrayal of an eagle than the previous logo.[63] The previous logo, in use between 2000 and 2017, featured a more heavily stylised wedge-tailed eagle. The club's current and former logos have all incorporated a stylised eagle's head, always facing east (i.e. towards the right, where east appears on most maps) to represent the eagle eyeing off its prey in the eastern states.[64]

As part of the AFL's Mascot Manor program, a bald eagle club mascot, Rick "The Rock", was created in 2003 to promote the club to junior players. The mascot is in part named after the song.[65] A real wedge-tailed eagle, Auzzie, has flown around the field before matches at West Coast home games since 2007.[66]

In 2018, the Eagles' home guernsey saw a return of the club's former 'royal blue' design used prior to 1999, updated to feature the club's new logo.[62][67] The club's away strip, which already used a variation of the design with the royal blue and gold colours swapped around, as updated to feature the new logo but otherwise remained relatively unchanged. Between 2000 and 2015, the club's home jumper design featured a stylised eagle on a tricolour of navy blue, white and gold.[68] This jumper was introduced during the 2000 season along with a much-criticised ochre away jumper as part of a rebrand of the club to coincide with the new millennium.[69] The ochre jumper was later dropped at the end of 2002 in favour of an updated version of the club's former royal blue jumper, which was worn during their 1992 and 1994 premierships.[70] Starting in 2010, the Eagles also wore a third, predominantly white guernsey in order to avoid visual clashes with teams who used similar colours.[68] It was dropped as the club's designated clash jumper at the end of 2016, in favour of an updated version of their original 1987 guernsey.[71] During October 2015, the club announced a navy version of the royal blue jumper would replace the tricolour guernsey as the club's home uniform from 2016, and was used until the introduction of the current design.[72] The Eagles rebranded to its current brand on 1 November 2017, ahead of the club's move to Perth Stadium from 2018.

Uniform evolution

[edit]

West Coast's uniform changes throughout their history:[73]

1987–1988
1988–1994
1995–99
2000–15
2016–17
2018–present

Sponsorship

[edit]
Year Kit Manufacturer Major Sponsor Shorts Sponsor Bottom Back Sponsor Top Back Sponsor Neckline Sponsor
1987 Puma Burswood - - -
1988–90 SGIO
1991—93 SGIO (Home)
Hungry Jack's (Away)
1994–99 Hungry Jack's (Home)
SGIO (Away)		 Hungry Jack's (Home)
SGIO (Away)
2000 SGIO SGIO SGIO
2001 NRMA
2002 SGIO
2003 SGIO (Home)
Hungry Jack's (Away)		 Hungry Jack's (Home)
SGIO (Away)
2004–08 Hungry Jack's (Home)
SGIO (Away)
2009–11 Perth Precast
2012–13 SGIO (Home)
Bankwest (Away)		 Bankwest (Home)
SGIO (Away)
2014 -
2015 Raw Hire
2016 Masters Milk
2017 AGL Energy
2018 ISC Sport[74] SGIO[75] (Home)
Hungry Jack's (Away)		 Hungry Jack's (Home)
SGIO (Away)
2019 Hungry Jack's Lendi[76]
2020 BHP
2021–22 Castore[77] Audi Centre Perth
2023– New Balance[78] Caltex

As part of West Coast's (and the AFL's in general) efforts to develop the game outside of Australia, the club partners with a number of internationally based football clubs, providing them with guernseys and other equipment. There are currently Eagles-affiliated clubs (also referred to as "sister clubs") in Cambodia (the Cambodian Eagles), Canada (the Toronto Eagles), China (the Shanghai Eagles), Italy (the Milano Eagles), and Sweden (the Karlstad Eagles).[79] West Coast is also responsible for sponsoring FootyWILD, a program similar to Auskick held in KwaZulu-Natal, a province of South Africa.[80]

Song

[edit]

The club's official team song is "We're the Eagles", composed by Kevin Peek, a former member of the progressive rock band Sky, and initially recorded at Peek's studio in Roleystone.[81][82] The current version of the song goes as follows:

Born is pride, from isolation
Our fortress built, we cross the nation
Our colours share, the West Coast sky
Our will to win will never die,
We're the Eagles, the West Coast Eagles
And we’re here to show you why
We’re the big birds, kings of the big game
We're the Eagles, we’re flying high
We stick together, through thick and thin
We grow as champions from within
Our club knows, it's more than winning
It's West Coast magic, and it's just beginning
We're the Eagles, the West Coast Eagles
And we’re here to show you why
We’re the big birds, kings of the big game
We're the Eagles, we’re flying high
We're the Eagles, we’re flying high

The original 1987 version, which was played after the 1992 and 1994 grand final victories, featured anti-Victorian verses ("For years, they took the best of us and claimed them for their own... So watch out, all you know-alls, all you wise men from the East") and a different musical structure. It was eventually altered in the late-1990s. The re-recorded version had new verses added by Ken Walther, who also composed Fremantle's 1995 team song.[83] A modified version of the late-1990s song has been used from 2018 to 2019.[84] Ahead of the Eagles' appearance in the 2015 Grand Final, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra created an orchestral version of the song.[85] In 2020, the club announced an updated version of the song, composed by Ian Berney and with vocals from Ian Kenny, both of Perth band Birds of Tokyo.[86] "Eagle Rock", a 1971 song recorded by Daddy Cool, is also traditionally played at home games after wins.[87]

Headquarters, training and administration base

[edit]

The West Coast Eagles had its original primary training and administration base at Subiaco Oval from 1987 until 2019, the club then moved its primary training and administration base to Mineral Resources Park in 2019.[88][89][90][91]

List of seasons

[edit]
Year No. Coach Captain John Worsfold Medal Leading
goalkicker		 Chris Mainwaring Medal
(Best Clubman)		 Emerging Talent Award
1987 8th Ron Alexander Ross Glendinning Steve Malaxos Ross Glendinning (38) Glen Bartlett Chris Mainwaring
1988 4th John Todd John Worsfold Ross Glendinning (2) (73) Phil Scott Guy McKenna
1989 11th Murray Rance Guy McKenna Peter Sumich (45) Geoff Miles Peter Sumich
1990 3rd Mick Malthouse Steve Malaxos Chris Lewis Peter Sumich (2) (90) Phil Scott (2) Dean Kemp
1991 2nd John Worsfold Craig Turley Peter Sumich (3) (111) Chris Waterman Glen Jakovich
1992 1st Dean Kemp Peter Sumich (4) (82) David Hynes Matt Clape
1993 6th Glen Jakovich
Don Pyke		 Peter Sumich (5) (76) John Worsfold Drew Banfield
1994 1st Glen Jakovich (2) Peter Sumich (6) (49) Guy McKenna Shane Bond
1995 5th Glen Jakovich (3) Jason Ball (43) Michael Brennan Fraser Gehrig
1996 4th Drew Banfield Mitchell White (37) Tony Evans Andrew Donnelly
1997 5th Peter Matera Peter Sumich (7) (33) Chris Mainwaring Josh Wooden
1998 7th Ashley McIntosh Fraser Gehrig (42) John Worsfold (2) Phillip Read
1999 5th Guy McKenna Guy McKenna (2) Scott Cummings (95) Dean Kemp Laurie Bellotti
2000 13th Ken Judge Glen Jakovich (4) Phil Matera (49) Phil Matera Darren Glass
2001 14th Ben Cousins and
Dean Kemp		 Ben Cousins Troy Wilson (40) Rowan Jones Daniel Kerr
2002 8th John Worsfold Ben Cousins Ben Cousins (2) Phil Matera (46) Drew Banfield Chris Judd
2003 7th John Worsfold Ben Cousins Ben Cousins (3) Phil Matera (62) Michael Braun Ashley Sampi
2004 7th John Worsfold Ben Cousins Chris Judd Phil Matera (61) Josh Wooden Mark Seaby
2005 2nd John Worsfold Ben Cousins Ben Cousins (4) Phil Matera (38) Andrew Embley Ashley Hansen
2006 1st John Worsfold Chris Judd Chris Judd (2) Quinten Lynch (65) Dean Cox Jaymie Graham
2007 3rd John Worsfold Chris Judd Darren Glass Quinten Lynch (52) Ashley Hansen Matt Priddis
2008 15th John Worsfold Darren Glass Dean Cox Ben McKinley (42) Jaymie Graham Ben McKinley
2009 11th John Worsfold Darren Glass Darren Glass (2) Mark LeCras (58) Beau Waters Chris Masten
2010 16th John Worsfold Darren Glass Mark LeCras Mark LeCras (63) Mark Nicoski Nic Naitanui
2011 4th John Worsfold Darren Glass Darren Glass (3) Josh Kennedy (59) Brett Jones Luke Shuey
2012 5th John Worsfold Darren Glass Scott Selwood Jack Darling (53) Mitch Brown Jacob Brennan
2013 13th John Worsfold Darren Glass Matt Priddis Josh Kennedy (60) Adam Selwood Scott Lycett
2014 9th Adam Simpson Darren Glass Eric Mackenzie Josh Kennedy (61) Sam Butler Jeremy McGovern
2015 2nd Adam Simpson Shannon Hurn Andrew Gaff Josh Kennedy (80) Josh Kennedy Dom Sheed
2016 6th Adam Simpson Shannon Hurn Luke Shuey Josh Kennedy (82) Luke Shuey Tom Barrass
2017 8th Adam Simpson Shannon Hurn Elliot Yeo Josh Kennedy (69) Mark Hutchings Liam Duggan
2018 1st Adam Simpson Shannon Hurn Elliot Yeo (2) Jack Darling (48) Lewis Jetta Willie Rioli
2019 5th Adam Simpson Shannon Hurn Luke Shuey (2) Jack Darling (59) Fraser McInnes Oscar Allen
2020 5th Adam Simpson Luke Shuey Nic Naitanui Josh Kennedy (34) Brad Sheppard Josh Rotham
2021 9th Adam Simpson Luke Shuey Nic Naitanui (2) Jack Darling (42) Liam Duggan Harry Edwards
2022 17th Adam Simpson Luke Shuey Tom Barrass Josh Kennedy (37) Oscar Allen Brady Hough
2023 18th Adam Simpson Luke Shuey Tim Kelly Oscar Allen (53) Shannon Hurn Reuben Ginbey
2024 16th Adam Simpson Oscar Allen & Liam Duggan Jeremy McGovern Jake Waterman (53) Liam Duggan Harley Reid
Denotes team finished runner-up
Denotes team won premiership
Denotes player won Coleman Medal

Club honours

[edit]

Club achievements

[edit]
Premierships
Competition Level Wins Years won
Australian Football League Seniors 4 1992, 1994, 2006, 2018
Finishing positions
Australian Football League Minor premiership
(McClelland Trophy)		 3 1991, 1994, 2006
Grand Finalist 3 1991, 2005, 2015
Wooden spoons 2 2010, 2023
AFL Women's Wooden spoons 1 2022 (S6)
West Australian Football League Wooden spoons 4 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Life members

[edit]

Players who have played 150 games for the club are automatically inducted as life members of the club. Other players, administrators and coaches that have made an outstanding contribution to the club have also been inducted. No life members were inducted in 2001 or 2021. The following players, coaches and administrators are life members of the club:

Year of induction Inductees
1994 Michael Brennan, Dwayne Lamb, Chris Lewis, Chris Mainwaring, John Worsfold (all players)
1995 David Hart, Guy McKenna (both players)
1996 Hank Gloede (property manager), Dean Kemp (player), Bill Sutherland (head trainer)
1997 Mick Malthouse (coach), Peter Matera, Peter Sumich, Chris Waterman (all players)
1998 Brett Heady, Glen Jakovich, Ashley McIntosh
1999 Murray McHenry (chairman)
2000 Drew Banfield, Mitchell White (both players)
2002 Ross Nicholas (marketing manager), Brian Edwards (manager), Ken Fitch, Rod Moore (both team doctors)
2003 Ben Cousins, Don Pyke (both players), Robert Wiley (player and coach)
2004 Karl Langdon, Phil Matera (both players), Trevor Nisbett (CEO)
2005 Michael Braun, Tony Evans, Peter Wilson (all players)
2006 Craig Turley, Ryan Turnbull, David Wirrpanda (all players), David Jones (board member)
2007 Chad Fletcher, Rowan Jones (both players), Brian Dawson (coach), Anna Durante (secretary), Tim Gepp (match committee chairman)
2008 Dean Cox, Andrew Embley, Darren Glass, Daniel Kerr, Phil Scott (all players)
2009 Dalton Gooding (chairman), Nigel Satterley (board member), Adam Hunter, Quinten Lynch (both players)
2010 Jeff Newman
2011 Adam Selwood (player), Richard Godfrey (Chief Operating Officer), Glenn Stewart (High Performance Manager)
2012 Ian Miller, Trevor Woodhouse, John Adams
2013 Matt Priddis, Peter Souris, Chris Summers, Ken Godwin
2014 Shannon Hurn, Matt Rosa, Gary Greer
2015 Mark LeCras
2016 Chris Masten, Josh Kennedy, Sam Butler, Will Schofield, Neil Hamilton, Denis McInerney, Mick Moylan.
2017 Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff, Jack Darling
2018 Nic Naitanui, Brad Sheppard, Chris Judd, David Hynes, Ross Glendinning.
2019 Chad Morrison, Mark Nicoski, Mark Hohnen, Richard Colless, Robert Armstrong
2020 Eric Mackenzie, Beau Waters, Jamie Cripps, Alan Cransberg
2022 Jeremy McGovern, Elliot Yeo, Michael Smith, Deane Pieters, Gary Stocks, David Grace QC[92]

Source:[93]

Team of the Decade

[edit]

In 1996 as part of the AFL's centenary celebrations, and the club's 10-year celebrations, the Eagles named a team of the decade.

Backs: David Hart Michael Brennan Ashley McIntosh
Half backs: Guy McKenna Glen Jakovich John Worsfold
Centres: Peter Matera Dean Kemp Chris Mainwaring
Half forwards: Brett Heady Mitchell White Craig Turley
Forwards: Chris Lewis Peter Sumich Tony Evans
Ruck: Ryan Turnbull Don Pyke Dwayne Lamb
Interchange: Chris Waterman Steve Malaxos Peter Wilson

Team 20

[edit]

In 2006 the West Coast Eagles named a greatest team of the past twenty years as part of the club's twentieth anniversary celebrations:

Backs: David Wirrpanda Ashley McIntosh Michael Brennan
Half Backs: Guy McKenna Glen Jakovich John Worsfold (Captain)
Centres: Peter Matera Dean Kemp Chris Mainwaring
Half Forwards: Brett Heady Mitchell White Chris Lewis
Forwards: Phillip Matera Peter Sumich Tony Evans
Ruck: Dean Cox Chris Judd Ben Cousins
Interchange: Chris Waterman Drew Banfield Don Pyke
Dwayne Lamb
Coach: Michael Malthouse

Team 25

[edit]

In 2011 the West Coast Eagles named a greatest team of the past twenty five years as part of the club's twenty fifth anniversary celebrations:

Backs: David Hart Darren Glass Michael Brennan
Half Backs: Guy McKenna Glen Jakovich John Worsfold (Captain)
Centres: Peter Matera Ben Cousins Chris Mainwaring
Half Forwards: Brett Heady Mitchell White Chris Lewis
Forwards: Phillip Matera Peter Sumich Tony Evans
Ruck: Dean Cox Dean Kemp Chris Judd
Interchange: Daniel Kerr Ashley McIntosh Don Pyke
Andrew Embley
Emergency David Wirrpanda Dwayne Lamb Matt Priddis
Coach: Michael Malthouse

Individual awards

[edit]

Hall of Fame inductees

[edit]

The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996:

West Coast Eagles Hall of Fame inductees

[edit]

Brownlow Medal winners

[edit]
Chris Judd, winner of the 2004 Brownlow Medal

The Brownlow Medal is awarded to the best player in the competition during the home-and-away season as voted by the umpires:

Winners
Runners-up

AFLPA Awards

[edit]

The Leigh Matthews Trophy is awarded to the best player in the competition as voted by the AFL Players Association:

The Best Captain Award is awarded to the best captain as voted by the AFL Players Association:

The Best First-Year Player Award is awarded to the best first-year player as voted by the AFL Players Association:

Norm Smith Medal winners

[edit]

The Norm Smith Medal is awarded to the player judged best-on-ground in the AFL Grand Final:

Coleman Medal winners

[edit]

The Coleman Medal is awarded to the player who kicks the most goals in the AFL competition during the home-and-away season:

AFL Rising Star winners

[edit]

The AFL Rising Star is awarded to the best rookie player in the competition during a particular season:

Goal of the Year winners

[edit]

The Goal of the Year is awarded to the player judged to have kicked the best goal during a particular season:

Mark of the Year winners

[edit]

The Mark of the Year is awarded to the player judged to have taken the best mark during a particular season:

All-Australian selection

[edit]

The All-Australian team is a representative team consisting of the best players during a particular season. Prior to 1991 it was awarded to the best players in each interstate football carnival.[94]

Year Eagles Players & Coaches Selected
1987 Phil Narkle
1988 Steve Malaxos
1991 Guy McKenna, Chris Mainwaring, Peter Matera, Craig Turley, Mick Malthouse (coach)
1992 Dean Kemp
1993 Peter Matera, Guy McKenna
1994 Peter Matera, Guy McKenna, David Hart, Glen Jakovich
1995 Glen Jakovich
1996 Peter Matera, Chris Mainwaring, Mitchell White
1997 Peter Matera, Fraser Gehrig
1998 Ben Cousins, Ashley McIntosh
1999 Ben Cousins
2001 Ben Cousins
2002 Ben Cousins
2003 Michael Gardiner, Phil Matera
2004 Chad Fletcher, Chris Judd
2005 Ben Cousins (vice-captain), Dean Cox, David Wirrpanda
2006 Ben Cousins, Chris Judd, Dean Cox, Darren Glass, John Worsfold (coach)
2007 Dean Cox, Darren Glass, Daniel Kerr
2008 Dean Cox
2010 Mark LeCras
2011 Dean Cox, Darren Glass
2012 Dean Cox, Darren Glass (captain), Nic Naitanui, Beau Waters
2015 Matt Priddis, Josh Kennedy (vice-captain), Andrew Gaff
2016 Josh Kennedy, Jeremy McGovern
2017 Josh Kennedy (vice-captain), Jeremy McGovern, Elliot Yeo
2018 Shannon Hurn, Jeremy McGovern, Andrew Gaff, Adam Simpson (coach)
2019 Shannon Hurn (vice-captain), Jeremy McGovern, Elliot Yeo, Jack Darling
2020 Brad Sheppard, Nic Naitanui, Liam Ryan
2021 Nic Naitanui
2024 Jeremy McGovern, Jake Waterman

VFL Team of the Year

[edit]

Prior to 1991 the VFL Team of the Year was announced each year, consisting of the best players during that season in the Victorian Football League.[94]

Year Eagles players selected
1987 Ross Glendinning
1988 John Worsfold
1989 Guy McKenna
1990 John Worsfold, Chris Lewis

Players and staff

[edit]
Main article: List of West Coast Eagles players

Squad

[edit]
West Coast Eagles
Senior list Rookie list Coaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches

Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)
  • (B) Category B rookie
  • italics - Inactive player list
  • Long-term injury
  • (ret.) Retired

Updated: 13 November 2024
Source(s): Senior list, Rookie list, Coaching staff


Coaching staff

[edit]
See also: List of West Coast Eagles coaches
Coaching staff[95]
Senior coach Assistant coaches Football Manager
Adam Simpson
appointed 2013
Matthew Knights
appointed 2021
Daniel Pratt
appointed 2015
Luke Webster
appointed 2016
Jarrad Schofield
appointed 2021
Gavin Bell
appointed 2021
Development coaches Strength and
conditioning coach		 WAFL coach
Kyal Horsley
appointed 2019
Mark Nicoski
appointed 2012
Jacob Brennan
appointed 2020
Drew Petrie
appointed 2018
Warren Kofoed
appointed 2008
Robert Wiley
appointed 2021

Club officials

[edit]
Club officials[96]
Chairman Deputy Chairman Chief Executive Officer Chief Operating Officer Chief Financial Officer
Paul Fitzpatrick
appointed 2022
Elizabeth Gaines
elected 2021
Don Pyke
appointed 2024
Richard Godfrey
appointed 2009
Peter Widdicombe
appointed 2024
Directors[97]
Justin Langer
elected 2017
Ben Wyatt
elected 2021
Terry Bowen
elected 2017
Rowan Jones
elected 2021
Nicole Moody
elected 2021

Rivalries

[edit]
Main articles: Western Derby and Sydney–West Coast AFL rivalry
The West Coast Eagles and Sydney Swans line up for the national anthem at the 2005 Grand Final.

The club's strongest rivalry is with the Fremantle Football Club, the only other AFL club based in Western Australia. The two teams play off in the Western Derby twice each home-and-away season. Overall, 56 derbies have been played, with the Eagles winning 32 and Fremantle winning 24.[98] West Coast currently hold the record for the most consecutive derby wins after winning their 11th in a row in round 7 of the 2021 AFL season. Derbies usually incorporate a near sold-out crowd. From 1995 to 2017, when the club played at Subiaco Oval, the average crowd was 39,910 people per game, out of a total capacity of 43,600 people. From 2018 to 2021, the average crowd at Optus Stadium was 56,033 (excluding two games in 2020 and 2021 played with reduced or no crowd due to COVID-19 restrictions), out of a total capacity of 60,000 people.[99]

The club's earliest rivalry was with VFL powerhouse the Hawthorn Hawks. This rivalry stemmed from a series of memorable matches in the early 1990s, most notably the 1991 Grand Final. It was considered the first ever interstate rivalry in the competition, although it had fallen into irrelevance in later years.[100] 24 years later in 2015, the two clubs met again in another grand Final, which Hawthorn won in convincing fashion.

Other rivalries include with Essendon,[101] and a rivalry with the Sydney Swans, which stems from a series of six matches between 2005 and 2007, including both the 2005 and 2006 Grand Finals, in which the total points difference was 13, the lowest of all-time. This sequence included three one-point matches between the 2006 qualifying final and round one of the 2007 season.[102]

Game and ladder records

[edit]
  • Biggest winning margin: 135 points – 26.21 (177) vs. Adelaide 5.12 (42), Subiaco Oval, 13 August 1995
  • Biggest losing margin: 171 points – 5.4 (34) vs. Sydney 31.19 (205), SCG, 24 June 2023
  • Highest score: 29.18 (192) vs. Brisbane Bears, W.A.C.A., 17 April 1988
  • Lowest score: 1.12 (18) vs. Essendon, Windy Hill, 15 July 1989
  • Highest score conceded: 31.19 (205) vs. Sydney, S.C.G., 24 June 2023
  • Lowest score conceded: 2.8 (20) vs. Melbourne, Subiaco Oval, 24 March 1991
  • Highest aggregate score: 295 points – Carlton 29.17 (191) vs. West Coast Eagles 15.14 (104), Princes Park, 18 April 1987
  • Lowest aggregate score: 76 points – Footscray 7.11 (53) vs. West Coast Eagles 3.5 (23), Whitten Oval, 23 August 1992
  • Most goals in a match: Scott Cummings, 14 goals vs. Adelaide, W.A.C.A., 1 April 2000
  • Highest crowd: 100,022 vs. Collingwood, MCG, 29 September 2018
  • Lowest crowd: 210 vs. Adelaide, The Gabba, 11 July 2020
  • Highest WA crowd: 59,608 vs. Melbourne, Optus Stadium, 22 September 2018
  • Lowest WA crowd: 12,803 vs. St. Kilda, W.A.C.A., 12 May 1988
  • Highest home-and-away season crowd: 62,957 vs. Collingwood, MCG, 23 June 2012

VFL/AFL finishing positions (1987–present)

[edit]
Finishing Position Year (Finals in Bold) Tally
1st (Premiers) 1992, 1994, 2006, 2018 4
2nd (Runner up ) 1991, 2005, 2015 3
3rd 1990 1
4th 1993, 2011 2
5th 1988, 1996, 2007, 2012 4
6th 1995, 1997, 1999, 2017, 2019 5
7th 1998, 2016, 2020 3
8th 1987, 2002, 2003, 2004 4
9th 2014, 2021 2
10th nil 0
11th 1989, 2009 2
12th nil 0
13th 2000, 2013 2
14th 2001 1
15th 2008 1
16th 2010, 2024 2
17th 2022 1
18th 2023 1

Head-to-head record

[edit]

Played:796 Won: 453 Drawn: 6 Lost:337 (Last updated – End of 2020 AFL season)

GP W D L For Agn % Win% 100+F 100+A
1 Adelaide 56 30 26 5077 4927 103.04 53.57 17 19
2 Brisbane Bears 16 13 1 2 1893 1298 145.84 84.38 10 3
3 Brisbane Lions 38 22 16 3652 3383 107.95 57.89 15 12
4 Carlton 51 26 25 4632 4659 99.42 50.98 20 18
5 Collingwood 61 31 1 29 5406 5303 101.94 51.64 21 17
6 Essendon 61 27 34 5595 5779 96.82 44.26 22 26
7 Fitzroy 15 9 6 1442 1090 132.29 60.00 7 2
8 Fremantle 59 33 26 5253 4817 109.05 55.93 18 17
9 Geelong 59 27 1 31 4931 5942 82.99 46.61 16 27
10 Gold Coast 18 11 1 6 1809 1470 123.06 63.89 8 6
11 Greater Western Sydney 12 9 3 1255 871 144.09 75.00 5 1
12 Hawthorn 53 29 24 4569 4816 94.87 54.72 15 19
13 Melbourne 54 37 17 5628 4493 125.26 68.52 30 13
14 North Melbourne 51 29 22 4983 4555 109.40 56.86 25 17
15 Port Adelaide 35 15 20 2927 3203 91.38 42.86 9 12
16 Richmond 45 26 19 4377 3927 111.46 57.78 22 12
17 St Kilda 50 31 1 18 4858 4290 113.24 63.00 24 12
18 Sydney 52 22 30 4256 4598 92.56 42.31 13 17
19 Western Bulldogs 56 36 1 19 5624 4667 120.51 65.18 31 15

Source:[103]

West Coast Eagles Football Club finals series match record
Opponent Played Won Lost Draw Most recent final
Adelaide 4 2 2 0 2006 Preliminary Final Win
Carlton 3 2 1 0 2011 Semi-Final Win
Collingwood 9 3 5 1 2020 Elimination Final Loss
Essendon 6 1 5 0 2019 Elimination Final Win
Geelong 6 4 2 0 2019 Semi Final Loss
GWS 1 0 1 0 2017 Semi-Final Loss
Hawthorn 5 2 3 0 2015 Grand Final Loss
Melbourne 5 4 1 0 2018 Preliminary Final Win
North Melbourne 5 3 2 0 2015 Preliminary Final Win
Port Adelaide 2 1 1 0 2017 Elimination Final Win
Sydney 5 2 3 0 2006 Grand Final Win
Western Bulldogs 4 2 2 0 2016 Elimination Final Loss
Overall 55 26 (48%) 28 (51%) 1
(2%)

Reserves team

[edit]
West Coast Eagles
Names
Full nameWest Coast Eagles Football Club
2022 season
Home-and-away season10th
Club details
Founded2019 (as a reserves side)
CompetitionWAFL
CoachRobert Wiley
Captain(s)Jackson Nelson
Ground(s)Mineral Resources Park (6,500)
Training ground(s)Mineral Resources Park
Uniforms
Home

The West Coast reserves are the reserves team of the club, playing in the West Australian Football League.

History

[edit]

West Coast never competed in the VFL/AFL reserves. In 1999, the entered into a host-club arrangement with the Claremont Football Club.[104] The affiliation only lasted a year, and from 2000 until 2001 the Eagles were aligned with the Perth Football Club.

From 2012 until 2013, the WAFL clubs voted to end host-club arrangements, and the Eagles (as well as Fremantle) returned to an affiliation with the entire WAFL.[105]

A host-club arrangement returned in 2014 with the Eagles in an alignment with the East Perth Football Club, but it ended at the end of the 2018 season when the Eagles chose to field a stand-alone reserves team.[106]

The reserves side initially had success, finishing fourth at the end of the 2019 season. They did not compete in 2020 because of the AFL's COVID-19 protocols, but returned in 2021, fishing last.[107]

West Coast only managed a single win in 2022. In 2023, the side suffered five losses of 100 points or more in the first 12 rounds of the season, with informal talks held about a possible forfeit of their game against Subiaco, although this did not happen.[108][109] Their 19-game losing streak ended in round 13 after a draw against Perth.[110]

AFL Women's team

[edit]
Main article: West Coast Eagles (AFL Women's)

In September 2017, West Coast Eagles were granted a license by the AFL to compete in the AFL Women's league from the start of the 2020 season.[111] The club shares home games between Lathlain Park, Perth Stadium and Leederville Oval.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
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  101. ^ Quartermaine, Braden (2011). Sheedy urges Essendon to keep the rivalry with West Coast burning – PerthNow. Published 30 April 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  102. ^ Butler, Steve (2011). Roos predicts rivalry will endure – Brisbane Times online. Published 9 April 2011. Retrieved 18 March 2012.
  103. ^ "West Coast Win–loss records". AFL Tables. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  104. ^ Host clubs dead..... or are they?.
  105. ^ Hagdorn, Kim (16 December 2001). "Chaos looms in new draft". Archived from the original on 22 July 2001. Alt URL
  106. ^ "West Coast Eagles launch new WAFL team as club bids for back-to-back AFL premierships". ABC News. 10 October 2018.
  107. ^ "West Coast remain in WAFL Competition". WA Football Commission. 17 November 2021.
  108. ^ "WEST COAST RESERVES". Australian Football.
  109. ^ "WAFL 2023: West Coast Eagles spoke to WAFC about potentially forfeiting game against Subiaco". The West Australian. 9 June 2023.
  110. ^ "WAFL NAIDOC Round Wrap". WAFL.
  111. ^ "AFLW: Tasmania-North Melbourne and Geelong win licenses to field teams in 2019". ABC News. 27 September 2017.
Bibliography
  • Michael Lovett, ed. (2010). AFL Record Season Guide. Geoff Slattery Media Group. ISBN 978-0-9806274-5-9.
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