With rookie coach Adam Simpson taking over from club great John Worsfold, and a list seen to have talent but yet to fulfil its potential, West Coast began this season as the enigma of the competition.
Fast-forward to their loss to Richmond, and 2014 has been filled with frustration and disappointment.
Beset by injuries to key players, and lacking star power through the midfield, the Eagles have been one of the most underwhelming teams of the season.
They tantalised fans with glimpses of their potential and ability, but these glimpses were few and far between.
The loss to Richmond officially ends the Eagles’ already slim chances of making finals, and leaves them with six games to try and find some solace from a disappointing season.
Their season was hampered by injuries to key personnel. Vice captain Beau Waters failed to get on the park all season due to a chronic shoulder injury, and both his leadership and run off half back were sorely missed. Key midfielder Scott Selwood also sustained a long-term injury, while young half back Elliott Yeo, defender Brad Shepphard and ruckman Nic Naitanui have all been in and out of the side with injury.
The upside was the young players who stepped into the breach, showing that Simpson has something to work with next year.
Mark Hutchings has turned into an ultra consistent midfielder, young forward Jeremy McGovern has been a revelation in his handful of games, top draftee Dom Sheed showed talent, while Blayne Wilson, Simon Tunbridge and Brant Colledge were other young Eagles to show promise.
However, despite the best efforts of these rookie players, they were unable to fill the void left by the absence of more senior players.
The biggest hole in West Coast’s list is its lack of star power and class. Retiring ruckman Dean Cox, full forward Josh Kennedy and midfielder Matt Priddis are the three Eagles who could be categorised as ‘stars’, with Selwood not far behind. After them, however, there is a big gulf in talent.
The Eagles are a team of high draft picks who have failed to develop into stars. Chris Masten, a former pick three, has become a consistent midfielder, but would be classed as ‘very good’ rather than ‘elite’. Similarly, Andrew Gaff, taken with pick four, has failed to develop into a star player. Luke Shuey has had his development stalled through injury, but is another who has threatens to break open games all too infrequently.
The Eagles also lack run through the midfield. West Coast’s decision to trade its pick six to Collingwood for pick eleven last year, in the knowledge that local inside midfielder Dom Sheed would still be available at that pick, robbed them of the chance to select a pacy, outside winger. Sheed has the makings of an excellent contested player, but is not fast. The Eagles need a line breaker, and this should be the highest draft priority for them this year.
Given that the 2014 draft will be one for the taller players, the Eagles need to procure a trade to acquire the services of a top-flight midfielder. Given their plethora of tall players – the Eagles have forwards Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling, Jeremy McGovern, Fraser McInnes, and ruckmen Naitanui, Scott Lycett and Callum Sinclair – the Eagles may be best served by letting one of these promising players go.
Lycett has been courted by Port Adelaide, who have struggled to get all their ruckmen on the field this year, and losing him could either deliver the Eagles a valuable pick or player.
A player who should be on the Eagles’ radar is Western Bulldogs midfielder Shaun Higgins. While he comes with the baggage of injury history, Higgins is a classy, line-breaking midfielder, and, more importantly, has put off contract talks until season’s end. He won’t come cheap, but would inject class into the team.
The retirements of captain Darren Glass and Cox will further deprive the Eagles of top-line talent and experience. The club should use the next six weeks to decide how to rebuild.
If they don’t, 2015 could be another year in the wilderness.
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