2019 finish: -

2020 finish: 7th (Conference B)

Grade: D

 

In a Nutshell

West Coast reaped far and wide for AFLW talent in its first season with players from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Ireland donning the blue and gold. However, the depth of the fledgling Eagles was targeted by experienced opposition as the season rolled on.

That West Coast was bullied off the ball in its maiden year is told in the numbers: Luke Dwyer’s side lost the Inside 50 differential by 51 in their six matches, averaged 174 disposals a game (only Richmond got the ball less), and were the lowest scoring side overall by 30 points.

West Coast struggled to stay in contests, losing five matches by an average of 37 points with their historic Round 4 win over the Bulldogs the only reward for their first season.

Indisputably and unsurprisingly, it was ex-Fremantle champion Dana Hooker who flew the flag highest for West Coast. The two-time All Australian’s output burned undimmed throughout the season even with attention from taggers: she averaged 18 touches in the first three matches and 21 in the final three to finish with four BOG performances for her side.

23-year old Swan Districts recruit Imahra Cameron’s intelligence and confidence proved her an astute first-round draft pick while Chantella Perera was a rebounding dynamo who had the football world wondering why it took three seasons at Hawthorn VFLW for her name to be called on draft day.

Several established AFLW players blossomed under their new roles as first-string players. Former Dockers Ashlee Atkins and Courtney Guard had career-best seasons while former marquee Giant Emma Swanson racked up plenty of the ball in the engine room.

For 2021

West Coast’s top-end talent is young enough for Dwyer to continue playing the long game and prioritise development over the scoreboard in 2021. However, the Eagles will need to find more youngsters ready to make the best 21 ahead of the 2020 draft.

Of the Eagles’ draft picks last October, Cameron and Perera showed the game sense of readymade players, but the latter will be 34 years old come Round 1, 2021.

The race is on for the best emerging talent out west and with Fremantle approaching its zenith, it’s a race that West Coast cannot afford to lose.