Yep, you read that headline right. The West Coast Eagles have as good a chance as any to win this year’s flag and claim back-to-back premierships.
Their premiership flew under the radar in Victoria, but it was one of the greatest premiership wins of all time.
Without Nic Naitanui, Andrew Gaff and Brad Sheppard, they came to the MCG against a rampaging Collingwood team and came back from nearly 40 points down to win the flag.
Why weren’t they an outright favourite for the premiership at the start of this season?
Who knows, but one thing is for sure.
They are the best team in the competition, and by a very long way.
Of course, the main fear the year after winning a flag is that dreaded premiership hangover.
The Eagles would have done nothing to stop those fears from growing after being humiliated by the Lions in Round 1, but they’ve well and truly quashed them over the last two weeks.
They beat an in-form Greater Western Sydney team by 52 points, having 12 scoring shots to five in the second half, and then came to the MCG to play Collingwood in a grand final rematch, where they won with ease again.
It was a performance that made a statement to the competition.
Most expected Collingwood to win, and they won nearly every important stat in the game, apart from the most important one: the scoreboard.
West Coast had 50 inside-50s on Saturday night, and they scored from nearly half of their entries.
They’re so clean with ball in hand, which is what sets them apart from basically every other team.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Inside midfielders in Dom Sheed and Jack Redden – who aren’t supposed to be great with ball in hand – are going at around 80 per cent disposal efficiency since the back end of last year, and their outside midfielders in Lewis Jetta, Andrew Gaff, Elliot Yeo and Shannon Hurn are exquisite ball-users.
They’re a team – much like the Hawks in their three-peat years – that just doesn’t have many weaknesses.
We’ve covered off their midfield, and how they have a great balance on the inside with Luke Shuey, Sheed and Redden, and then outside with Jetta, Gaff and Hurn.
Their back line is no exception, led by superstar key defenders in Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass, who could potentially be the two best key defenders in the competition with Alex Rance injured.
They’re accompanied by Sheppard – who is a vital inclusion after missing out on a premiership – as well as emerging small defender Tom Cole.
The forward line is where they win games, though, evident by how frequently they score from inside-50s.
It’s not surprising when they’re led by two-time Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy, as well as Jack Darling, who is finally delivering on the potential he had as a younger player.
Oscar Allen – the young key forward who has jumped onto the scene this year – looks like a brilliant prospect, kicking six goals from three games.
The Eagles’ small forwards are as good as any, with Liam Ryan being the most electrifying player in the competition apart from Lance Franklin.
Willie Rioli is out with injury at the moment, but he went from strength to strength last year. Jamie Cripps is always good for around 30 goals a season, and they’ve found another good one in third-gamer Jack Petruccelle.
They’ve found the recipe that makes a group united and strong, with a great game plan by Adam Simpson, much like the Tigers of 2017 and 2018.
However, it remains to be seen whether they can go one better than the Tigers, who at this stage last year were the premiership certainties.
All we do know is that it will take a champion team to beat this West Coast side, and they’re the benchmark for season 2019.
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
Laughing all the way to the bank no doubt.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
No basis? It's pretty simple Matches. The Tigers went 18-4 and had a % of 136.1. The Eagles went 16-6 and had a % of 121.4. If that doesn't make the Tigers the best home and away team in 2018 then I don't know what does.
Shane
Guest
Make no mistake, the Eagles are out of the race unless they clear the now required salary cap space. That will mean losing at least a couple of premiership A graders. That won't happen. Geelong did the right thing by refusing their crappy offer last year, and the tight fisted Eagles will once again miss out on Kelly. Freo in the box seat, but if Geelong go deep in finals all bets are off - he could end up staying.
Shane
Guest
I agree, West Coast is easily the dominant team of the comp. It's simple to see. You just have to ignore their horrible losses. Lol, don't delude yourself?
Shane
Guest
Brisbane says hello, is why. No matter which way you spin it, the Eagles lost a game to a better side. Not just lost - they were absolutely flogged. It hasn't happened to Geelong yet. When you come out with ludicrous statements this early suggesting they're streets ahead of anyone else, please don't ignore that Brisbane elephant in the room.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Fair enough Matto. How's your mate 6x6?
Cat
Roar Guru
When did I ‘dial up’ expectations? Nice assumption of facts not in evidence.
Matches
Roar Rookie
The Eagles were the best performed team against all finalists in 2018 and the won the premiership. Eagles won all their games in Vic. Richmond only beat G.Coast out of Vic - lost all other interstate games - and got thrashed by the Eagles. Not much basis for the opinion that R'mond were the best team in 2018 but you have your right to it.
Lukey Miller
Guest
West Coast might well be the best team at the moment, but September is a very long way away. It is very creditable that the Eagles have won so many games on end in Melbourne. Richmond went into the 2018 finals as raging favorites to win the flag, and rightly so. They stumbled in the PF on their home ground, having been clearly the "best side" all year. The Eagles will be a long way from home if they do make the grand final, having traveled many thousands of kilometres during the season to play all around Australia. It is hard enough to win a GF from WA let alone to win 2 in a row. I think the 2019 race is wide open at this stage, with Geelong the side to watch.
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
There is no insult to find. I'm just being stupid and saying the premiers weren't the best team last yr.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I'm trying to find the insult in there Matto but can make no sense of the comment. I'm sure it's good though. Well done. Ouch, that hurts. I think.
Parer Ben
Roar Rookie
The fact is Bomber Thomson not only didn’t coach in 2011 but given what we know now it probably would have been a train wreck if he had. Was Chris Scott lucky to have the list he did? Yes, but that just put the team potentially in the mix. But let’s not forget how Geelong we’re bundled out in 2010 and labelled as too old and too slow all year. Yes the senior players helped galvanise this but Scott was the coach and they won the premiership. It’s like saying Joyce didn’t deserve the 1988 hawthorn premiership. If anything I actually rate both more because they did it in the first year. Every year each team with groups of players, coaches and support staff go on a mission to win a flag. Each is contained and separate from year to year. IMO its a very low brow argument to say it was a gift.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Civilisation? That sounds a bit pretentious. What happens when you’ve burnt all your brown coal, contributing to the highest rate of respiratory disease outside the NT? Or, doesn’t the Yarra Valley and its inhabitants matter to you either? Selling each other coffee in back alleys and living with the threat of buruli ulcers and the hottest seaside temperatures recorded on Earth doesn’t sound too civilised to me. But if you like necrotic infections, absurd heat and morbid introspection, you’re welcome. Imagining that no one else counts is a narcissistic view that I seriously doubt is shared by more than a sliver of your fellow Victorians,particularly not by those enlightened ones who support the West Coast Eagles.
Luke
Guest
Fun fact. In the Eagles four premiership winning seasons, they've only won their first fixture of the year once.
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
To be the first team beaten by someone other than the best team of that year. Oh the shame.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Do you you know what pompous means? I was trying to be funny, actually. Would you prefer p.ussie.s as a description of a team that doesn't like travel and finals. Yes, I know that they've had the most finals appearances in the AFL era but failed to take the first hurdle recently. I still remember Geelong having players sponsored by Whiskas, that's pretty domestic and pathetic. Also, look up the meaning of the word ' inexplicable' and try to use it correctly next time.
Jackson
Guest
Oh boohoo hoo...everything you say has a negative angle on the Eagles. Who gives a toss? The Cats may win, The Eagles may win, the better team should win at season's end, and it all rolls on again and again. But you'll still be here with your bitterness and bias, behind your keyboard, Lording over everyone else with your disdain and superior knowledge...yawn, ad tedium infinitum.
danno
Guest
If West Coast finish top 2 with a healthy list, they will be extremely difficult to beat. Lycett is a big loss but there biggest danger is themselves. Simmo is a smart coach and there is motivation for Nic Nat, Gaff & Shepherd, don't think they will do a 1993.
Michael44
Guest
I've never barracked for a Vic club against a non-Vic club just because I'm Victorian. And, it just hasn't entered the conversation's I've had over the years with other Vic fans. State-of-Origin died out a long long time ago and I don't consider West Coast or Freo to be reps of WA. They are just other AFL sides that I want the Tiges to beat. Maybe it's the Vic media that are responsible for some non-Vic fans impression that Vic fans love to barrack for Vic sides against non-Vic fans??? Last year the pre-GF headline in the Melbourne Herald sun was something like "Barrack for Collingwood and lets send these WA guys back emptyhanded" or some headline sort of like that. What, I'm supposed to barrack for ummm, forrrr,umm,..... you're wanting me to barrack for Collingwood againgst the Eagles cos Collingwood areVictorian??? umm,I don't think so Herald Sun. I'll make up my own mind as to who I want to win the GF thank you very much Herald Sun.
User
Roar Rookie
Angry, sour and bitter lol