WHEN Mark LeCras' future was up in the air last August, Josh Kennedy fronted the media saying he would sit the West Coast veteran down at season's end and, over a beer, convince him to play on in 2018.

It was a ringing endorsement that LeCras still had plenty to offer after heavy – and at times hysterical – scrutiny on his form, and their chat helped the 31-year-old realise his heart was set on remaining an Eagle.

"Yeah, we had a few beers," LeCras said with a laugh in an interview with AFL.com.au ahead of his 200th game against Gold Coast. 

"He's good like that. He's someone that I'm really honest with. He's one of my best mates.

"It was a funny year going through the ups and downs. I definitely had some thoughts about my future.

"But I've got some guys who I talk to throughout the footy club and who I'm really confident with their opinions and that's probably what convinced me to want to keep playing."

LeCras battled a hip issue for most of last season, which impacted his ability to train and affected his confidence. 

The classy forward still booted 32 goals – the eighth year in a row he's kicked at least 30 – but inconsistency was an issue and there were question marks given that his contract was expiring and the Eagles were preparing to overhaul the AFL's oldest list. 

LeCras' future was a storyline which bubbled away as West Coast scrapped to play finals, however it reached boiling point when commentator David King declared he should never play again following the Eagles' fadeout against Collingwood in round 18. 

"He's not a person that I listen to but obviously you've got a lot of family and friends who are exposed to that sort of journalism and it finds its way to you through them," LeCras said.

"I try to keep away from all that sort of stuff. But when someone says something like he did it ends up making its way back to you.

"There's nothing you can do about it. I probably didn't help myself by wanting to hold myself back out of the media because my confidence was down at the time.

"When you hide from that stuff a little bit it opens you up to more criticism from other people who are going to come out and say stuff about you rather than you being able to tell it how it is.

"You move on pretty quick but."

WATCH: LeCras rolls it through

While seeing close mates Matt Priddis and Sam Butler head into retirement was an eye-opener for LeCras – who is now the oldest Eagle – he signed a one-year contract extension and, like the whole club, quickly started looking forward towards a new era. 

Coach Adam Simpson has repeatedly avoided comparisons to 2017 since the Eagles returned for pre-season training, and an injection of four first-year players has reinvigorated the line-up in the opening three rounds.  

"It's been awesome actually," LeCras said. "(They) have brought a huge enthusiasm and energy to the footy club.

"It's definitely helped me with my footy, just being able to get out there and play with some young guys who love every minute."

Enjoying his football as much as ever, LeCras has been a driver of West Coast's impressive 2-1 start.

The classy goalkicker has snagged eight majors but also stepped up his pressure, laying nine tackles in round one against Sydney, and leadership of a young attack.

While it is still early in the season, LeCras' form suggests 2018 might not necessarily be his last campaign, although he is philosophical about what his future holds.

"I'm not looking that far forward but I'd love to play as long as I can," he said.

"I can't afford to look too far ahead. When you're in my position you have a conversation year by year with the footy club and see where they want to go, see where I want to go and I'm pretty realistic about it. 

"If we're both on the same page I'd love to go again."