The Roar
The Roar

AFL
Advertisement

Opinion

How West Coast can shorten their rebuild

4th May, 2022
Advertisement
Autoplay in... 6 (Cancel)
Up Next No more videos! Playlist is empty -
Replay
Cancel
Next
Roar Rookie
4th May, 2022
46
1021 Reads

West Coast have lost their last three games by 109, 84 and 63 respectively.

They have had three consecutive defeats of at least ten goals, two of which were at home.

It’s no secret that the premiership window for the West Coast Eagles has slammed shut and a rebuild is in order.

It’s hard to believe that we’re watching the premiers from just four seasons ago, and a team that missed the finals by just one game in 2021.

So how have things gone so wrong, so fast?

They could always blame COVID for the need to use 39 players by Round 7. Only two of those played in all seven games so far (Shannon Hurn and Patrick Naish).

But there was a precursor to this happening last year. West Coast have become easy to play against.

Advertisement

A changing style of game combined with an ageing list leaves little room for adjustment.

Despite the implementation of the stand rule and the game opening up, the better teams are winning the contested ball.

In 2018, only two of the top eight contested teams finished inside the top four. Compare this to 2021, when the top four contested possession teams placed in the top five, as well as the top three of those playing in preliminary finals.

It’s no secret West Coast have never been a contested-possession team, ranking no higher than tenth since their flag in 2018, and sitting comfortably in 18th this season.

Adam Simpson addresses the Eagles

(Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

However, their secret weapons were the kick-mark game and their efficiency when they went inside forward 50.

Ranked securely in the top three in marks every year since 2018, they sit eighth after seven rounds in 2022.

Advertisement

Add to that the fact they lead the league in turnovers despite having the third fewest disposals, there won’t be many marks taken when 23 per cent of disposals have led to turnovers.

The Eagles have been long admired for their dead-eye forwards, making up for the lack of forwards entries.

They have rarely existed outside the top few teams of efficiency inside 50. But this stat dropped down to ninth last year and 14th so far in 2022.

When they are nailed to the bottom of the inside 50s per game, they can’t afford to lose what kept them competitive.

How do these numbers add up to 18th on the ladder?

Well, West Coast are allowing teams to have almost 20 more forward-50 entries per game, while letting teams operate 7.6 per cent more efficiently than their season averages when taking shots on goal.

Richmond, Port Adelaide and Sydney had 195 entries between them and went at 55.9 per cent inside 50. During those three games, the Eagles had 99 entries at 45.8 per cent.

Advertisement
Tim Kelly of the Eagles gathers the ball.

(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Beating West Coast at their own game, the opposition are taking 12 marks above their season average when playing the Eagles.

As well as being beaten outside the contest, the Eagles are allowing teams to average 20 contested possessions more than them so far in 2022 (with Gold Coast, Sydney and Port Adelaide beating them by 30-plus in the area).

The only game where West Coast won both the contested possession and mark count (+11 and +7 respectively)?

Round 4 against Collingwood, when they found a win without relying on Optus Stadium as they have in recent years.

Is it an issue of bringing players in underdone, a stubborn game plan that needs to change, or just a lack of desire on the player’s part?

I find it hard to pin this to just a COVID issue. Fremantle have dealt with protocols as well (admittedly not on the same scale) and they have been the most impressive team thus far in the season.

Advertisement

In order to shorten the transition period as Adam Simpson puts it, the Eagles need to continue injecting as much youth as possible.

Introduce them to the game through a lens of contested ball and shift the game plan that way, rather than trying to shoehorn the ageing players into a new system.

close