The next four rounds could either leave West Coast in a dishevelled heap, or see them finally justify the hype generated by their early-season wins.
Matches against top-eight teams Collingwood, North Melbourne, Hawthorn and Gold Coast will give us a belated read on where the Eagles are at.
West Coast have been the most inscrutable team of the 2014 season. In their pomp they have looked capable of having an impact in September, but their depth and desire have been tested since they marched to a 3-0 record.
At that point many football pundits and fans were bracketing them as a finals certainty and a potential top-four outfit – no great surprise given some of the scintillating football they produced during wins over Western Bulldogs, Melbourne and St Kilda by a combined margin of 183 points.
Then they encountered their first imposing opponents, Geelong, and promptly fell apart. That 75-point pounding away from home prompted a dramatic slide which saw them lose four games on the bounce.
While they were competitive against heavyweight sides Port Adelaide and Fremantle, they lacked the efficiency and ruthlessness needed to edge out quality opposition.
These undesirable traits were laid bare in their capitulation against a floundering Carlton line-up in Round 6. The Eagles were 24 points up midway through the final quarter and should have sauntered to victory. Instead, their questionable competitive spirit again raised its grotesque head and they meekly surrendered, allowing the Blues to thieve the four points.
West Coast’s most recent outing further muddied the waters. Typically a 111-point victory would give cause for significant optimism, but it was registered against a young GWS Giants team who were woefully listless and seemingly uninterested.
Disposing of a shoddy adversary in your home conditions is one thing. Travelling to the MCG to challenge the eighth-placed Collingwood is incomparable.
The Pies suffered a setback on the weekend, losing a match to Adelaide which they were expected to win. They have, however, been in good touch since starting their season with a shockingly lacklustre display against Fremantle. The Pies have bested flag contenders Sydney and North Melbourne and have a strong recent record against the Eagles, claiming four of their last five contests.
West Coast have no excuses as they should field a team which is very close to their best 22. Courageous defender Beau Waters is the only first-choice player missing through injury. Classy forward Mark LeCras will be absent due to his own stupidity, having been suspended for executing a crude high bump on Will Hoskin-Elliott in the match against GWS.
Two major pluses to emerge from that game, however, were the spikes in form of spearhead Josh Kennedy and enigmatic ruckman Nic Naitanui. Both key players had laboured over the opening seven rounds. At their peak they are arguably West Coast’s two most potent players.
Kennedy’s 11 goals against GWS was a fine effort despite the poor opposition. He looked revitalised and will have earned great confidence from his sharpshooting effort in front of goals.
When he is in fine fettle, leading robustly and marking with an iron grip, he straightens up the Eagles’ attacking forays. Both he and Naitanui will need to trouble Collingwood if the Eagles are to cause an upset on Saturday.
Such an unexpected win would likely haul them into the top eight and gift them invaluable momentum ahead of their home game against the Kangaroos.
A loss, particularly if it is due to a familiar lack of commitment, could propel them into a downward spiral. Over the next four rounds, West Coast must prove they can do more than bully weak opponents.
Andrew
Guest
The idea of Hurn playing through the middle is very appealing. Would love to see him taken off the leash.
Lroy
Guest
Mate, Schofield should get Gaff's position on the wing.. Hurn to play through the middle, and maybe Darling as well.. they got some guy McCinnes kicking swags of goals each week in the WAFL.. time to give him a shot up forward methinks.
Lroy
Guest
Dude... that about sums it up.. nice work ;-)
Jack
Guest
Didn't west coast lose to carlton who where missing half there team? It's not crunch time it's demolition time over the next 4 weeks.
T
Guest
Apart from the opening 15 minutes, they were on par with Freo.
johno
Guest
Just read that West Coast have not beaten the Pies at the MCG since 1995! Admittedly they've only played them 9 times at the G since then, and played 9 times at Vic Park / Docklands for 5-4 win loss ratio in the Eagles favour They are 2-8 from the last 10 match up between the 2 teams. What hope West Coast this weekend? not much
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Problem is though who is going to be above them if they are to slump? So hard to pick at the moment? Where will the Suns finish too?
Shouts Chen
Guest
Eagles need to win a few games to make the finals. Players like Xavier Ellis, Eric McKenzie, Jack Darling and Mark LeCras need to stay fit for this year.
Paul D
Roar Guru
True, but they didn't kick straight, did they? And where were they for the other 3 quarters? Moments of dominance within a game don't equate to genuine matchwinning ability. The best teams compete week-in, week-out, and they do it consistently. I'd argue the Eagles midfield isn't that great, precisely because they don't do that.
T
Guest
Their midfield isn't as bad as people say - if they had kicked straight against Port, Carlton and Freo their record would be very different. The Eagles mids smashed Freo in the 2nd qtr of the Derby, but you will never win a footy game kicking 1.8 in a qtr.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Yeah I'm with you Paul D I think the Eagles will finish just outside the eight. Hopefully they prove me wrong though.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Shuey would be in the best 22 of any side in the comp, as would Priddis. But there are too many passengers in the middle at the moment.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
2011 and 2012 were definitely solid seasons for the Eagles but it's hard to argue with criticism of their midfield makeup.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I'd be willing to give it a go and chalk it up as a life experience.
johno
Guest
"At that point many football pundits and fans were bracketing them as a finals certainty and a potential top-four outfit" Ummm, no. Most pundits paid those victories, and pre-season wins over Freo, no mind and were sitting there waiting for them to play a team who made finals and see what they could do. The result 0-3 against the Cats, Dockers, Port. End result - West Coast will not play finals this year.
GazzaW
Guest
All the mid table teams are downhill skiers all of them seem to look like a million dollars when they are on top and utter rubbish when they hit a top 4 team. It's just the nature of being mid table you are missing an element that sets you up for the big time. For the eagles it's the ability to win enough clean midfield ball to feed the forwards enough quality inside 50's. There are enough big bodies in the eagles squad that could do the job ie Hurn Schofiled but they don't play them in the middle. I think it's because in part you get cast/trained in a role early and it's much harder to become that sort of utility player these days
Aransan
Guest
Are there enough midfielders for 18 clubs? Have we been gradually changing the game so that they are now more important than ever before? It seems almost that half your back and forward lines have to contain players rotating through the midfield. Does this also contribute to unpredictable form as teams can't get up every week with the relentless pressure? Is it getting to the stage where players need to be rotated, especially coming off short breaks?
langou
Roar Guru
The Eagles are in a bit of trouble. They are downhill skiers and going to struggle to finish anywhere near the eight.
Chaos
Guest
Gaff is so easily pushed off the ball it frustrates me. He showed signs since being drafted but I would try and package him for a pick/player. Not what the Eagles need and could be icing on the cake for a team who need some run. Think his contract is up soon.
Chaos
Guest
By the way as I don't think we will make an impact even if we make the finals, I hope we finish 13/14th and get a high pick. In one draft we could get Alec Waterman (father son hopefully second round pending if someone bids their first rounder) and then pick up a gun midfielder with a top ten pick. Dom Sheed (pick 11 this season) would also be a year on and be better ready for AFL football. Eagles are hoping the bigger bodies in Tunbridge/Colledge come on as well. However I wouldn't hold my breath on them but Colledge showing some signs in WAFL.