The West Coast Eagles finished ninth on the ladder in season 2021. They won six of their opening nine games of the season. After 13 games they had won eight and lost five games.
In their last nine games of the season, they won just two games, which were in Round 18 and 19 against the Crows and the Saints. During the same time period they lost seven out of nine games, of which they lost four by at least 38 points, which means that they may need to rebuild.
The Eagles only had four players that featured in all 22 games in season 2021. Those four players were: Dom Sheed, Nic Naitanui, Tom Cole and Jack Darling. At the other spectrum, they only had three debutants and two players who came from other teams in the trade period, which were Alex Witherden from the Lions and Zac Langdon from the Giants.
Their list needs to be refreshed.
To be eligible for selection, it’s essential that each player selected featured in at least five games in season 2021. Here are the five players and an honourable mention selected, which the Eagles could least afford to lose based on their performances this year.
Honourable mention: Shannon Hurn
Hurn averaged the most metres gained of any Eagles player in season 2021 with an average of 465.40 metres gained per game. He had the third highest average disposal efficiency with an average of 87.75 per cent efficiency per game.
5. Jack Darling
Darling featured in all 22 games in season 2021. He was the Eagles’ leading goal kicker by one goal as he finished with 42 for the season, which was one more goal than Josh Kennedy. To go with that, Darling averaged the most contested marks of any Eagles player with an average of exactly two contested marks per game. He was a pivotal part of the Eagles structure, as he played centre half forward.
Jack Darling (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
If he hit the scoreboard more, he may well have been a more valuable player for the team.
4. Jeremy McGovern
McGovern averaged the fourth most contested marks of any Eagles player, with an average of 1.67 marks per game in 15 games. He averaged the most intercepts of any Eagles player, with an average of 7.47 per game. When he did get possession of the ball, he used it well, with an average disposal efficiency percentage of 84.94 per cent per game. He was a key part of the manner in which the Eagles team played.
3. Dom Sheed
Sheed polled the most Brownlow votes of any Eagles player, accumulating 13 votes and finished second in the Eagles’ best and fairest. He averaged the fourth most contested possessions of any Eagles player with an average of 10.45 per game. He averaged the fourth most metres gained of any West Coast player, with an average of 388.32 per game.
2. Jack Redden
Redden finished fourth in the Eagles’ best and fairest for season 2021. That’s despite the fact that he only featured in 18 games, one of which he was subbed off due to injury. He had an extremely consistent season; he averaged the third most disposals on average of any Eagles player per game and also worked hard defensively as he averaged the third most tackles of West Coast player per game.
1. Nic Naitanui
Naitanui was obviously the player that they could least afford to lose as the only other experienced No.1 ruckman was Nathan Vardy, who retired at the end of 2021. Being selected in the AFL All Australian team on the interchange bench showed what a valuable player Naitanui was for the Eagles.
He averaged the second most contested possessions per game and he averaged the most clearances of any Eagles player. He is a player who the Eagles couldn’t do without in season 2021.
Lukey Miller
Guest
My first pick would have been Jared Brander. Some club is going to be lucky when they trade him in.
Bretto
Guest
McGovern is the 2nd highest player in the league, get rid of him and free up room for 2 quality players stats can be so misleading and 86% disposal efficiency....I think he is the worst kick on the team and I get nervous when he's got the ball coming out of the backlinr
sven
Roar Rookie
theres that mysterious bit of paper again
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
The impish looking Josh Phillipe took of his helmet yesterday when celebrating his ton and was fully shaven...looked 50yo. Why?
Blitz
Guest
WC are in the window (on paper). They haven’t lived up to their potential unfortunately.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
At this end of their careers, the draft picks they'd get would never yield a player better than Darling or McGovern. Far better to keep them and benefit from their next 4 years.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
Trading out McGovern and Darling would give WC draft picks that could be used to draft players who would be in the team the next time they are in their premiership window, it would also give other players opportunities. There would still be enough experienced players to guide the young. There is no doubt McGovern and Darling are good players but would they still be around when WC are challenging again?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Why do young people shave their heads? They lose all individuality and all look 40yo.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Sheed looks like he's forty though. Looks like a tradie playing masters after a day on the tools.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If you concede that McGovern and Darling "have some currency", then, by that definition, they are part of WC's future. Every team needs experienced stars. Only Hurn, of those 5 haven't got 3 years or more left.
WCE
Roar Rookie
The draft will help . The Eagles had extensive injuries to pivotal players which didnt help but we will be back. I agree with the 5 players mentioned , all super stars
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Losing to the injury ravaged Eagles in Sydney in Round 12 was Carltons worst loss of the season. After being very competitive against all top teams to that point this was the must win game to signal Teague could coach and we could make a serious run at finals. Massive fail and our season was over from that point onwards.
Aransan
Roar Rookie
The problem is that Naitanui is 31, Redden 30, Sheed 26, McGovern 29, Darling 29, and Huron is 34. Unless there is a very quick rebuild then only Sheed will be part of future success. West Coast couldn’t trade out Naitanui but McGovern and Darling would have some currency.