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.
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.
(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.
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.
(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.
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.
Seymorebutts
Roar Rookie
Ha ha, poor old Naish. Well, thats what happens when you take guys who got cut from other clubs. 1/3 of our side are guys who fit that bill. Sure, you get the odd diamond in the rough, but Most of the time all they do is show why they got cut. Brutal assessment but I think its true. Yeo and Redden were recruited to fulfil specific roles, so I dont include them in that, but the guy from Port we brought over.. he had one good game in 3 years, he should have been cut after his first year with us. Agree with you on Shuey.. hes had hammy problems his whole career actually... so I think we have to bite the bullet and do one of two things next year. a.) Tell the Shuester that he only plays every second week when we are at home... and on the road we use that to blood new young guys. b.) We retire him at the end of the year with Hurn et al. If he wants to keep playing we trade him to GC. Cheers mate. ; ]
Seymorebutts
Roar Rookie
Cheers mate ; ]
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Darling will be fine once he finishes his pre-season training.
Mark
Guest
And just as I feared they've dropped RCD, Stack, and to a lesser extent Ross to accommodate Martin and Cotchin. Would have thought it would have been a prime time to give Edwards a reset in the ressies, and maybe run Cotch through there too so injury does'nt recur. I thought RCD and Stack did there jobs without being standouts against West Coast, both seemed to me to do a lot of that bullocky one percenter work in both midfield in RCD case and Stack in the forward line keeping it in. Anyway I suppose they know what they're doing.
Relocate Them!
Guest
It could be decades, half a century or more before West Coast ever improves.
Clear as mud
Guest
I think Ross is a woeful decision maker. It is probably exacerbated by him playing for his spot every week.
Clear as mud
Guest
Haha. If you say so
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Good summary there. A shame about Prestia. We're a far better side with him in it. Agree with the group of kids needing a good run at it. Ross is an interesting one. Seems to lack a bit of run and leg speed, often slowing play down. Jack Graham certainly has him covered in this area. I'd play him over Ross every day of the week. If you're going to play those other kids it's probably Jack Ross who misses out which tends to happen anyway when all the troops are available.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Doesn’t matter. Lots of people move away from home.
Ace
Roar Rookie
Totally agree. Could be proved wrong but I can't see English leaving a youngish strong team
Tibor
Guest
Cripps and darling have almost no value imo. Cripps is a good player but darling looks done. McGovern is good but at his age and injuries I agree it could only be a second rounder. Could get a top 12 pick for Gaff I agree
Chanon
Roar Rookie
True Jackson looking forward to Bruce the Juice getting back. Finally he’s training with the lads so he should be back in the next 3 weeks, cross my fingers :thumbup:
Tibor
Guest
Just can’t imagine why any good young player would go there. English wants to win a flag I bet. Don’t see that happening with Eagles. Their rebuild hasn’t even started and they’ve got Nothing to trade for good picks
Jakson Bertoli
Roar Rookie
Yeah he’s one of those players you want to put pen to paper ASAP. But I think the fact he’s finally the #1 ruck in the system, he started on fire this year, and the chance for more flags will keep him there. Watch out for the dogs when Bruce comes back
Chanon
Roar Rookie
True Nort but his family is from WA hope your right mate!
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Hopefully he stays but who knows Jackson l’ll be sceptical till he resigns! He was put through the wringer last year l just wonder what Tim & his managers thoughts were during the off season. He has put his negotiations on hold till end of year which worries me!
Mark
Guest
Edwards is the main one after the last few rounds. He seems to have lost his spark both in quickness of disposal which was his key quality and in speed. Cotch seems to have lost a yard of pace, he's getting there, although it would be tough to call his career right now. Prestia can't get his body right to play more than a couple of games on the trot. That's the main ones who work through the engine room which I feel has been the problem this year. Sonsie is probably a bit early, but I think what we want to see his a consistent run for kids like RCD, Stack, Ralphsmith to make a call on them. And see more of Rioli Jnr, great on the weekend on a side that had already been butchered and packaged, but not killing it at Ressies. Would you say Ross has had enough time to establish himself? Is it just me or does he appear to be Graham Lite with the same skillset and thus can't play both of them.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I think the recruiter is a crucial figure at any club. All successful clubs would have savvy, quick on their feet recruiters. I feel Adelaide lacked that over few years; too many for me to think about. ------- I like the idea of players on the outer at other clubs but they've gotta be player types who bust a nut to do the one-percenter stuff. The type that play with heart. I can think of no better player than Rory Sloane in this regard. Excuse my bias. Not that he was necessarily on the outer at another club. You can build a club around these types. ------- I have a lot of time for WA & Tas. I can Remember when the Big V would play the SA/WA/Tas with the best of all 4 states in the White V beating up the leftovers in the smaller states. It fired up in me a guttural hatred of Victoria that still stands to this day. And the AFL have corporatised footy and have effectively kept Tasmania out which is wrong. And don't schmuck me about money. Our proper name is the "Commonwealth of Australia" and the AFL should remember that.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Why get rid of a star in the hope of finding someone who might or might not make the grade? Trading stars is always the dumbest of all footy conversations.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
No one to top up with. All the kids in Freo's squad are better than any "top up" candidates.