WEST Coast's desire for its own WAFL team is back on the agenda after partner club East Perth voted to scrap their alignment.
The Eagles and Royals have been working together in an at-times challenging relationship since the WAFL clubs refused to allow the Perth-based AFL teams standalone sides in the state competition five years ago.
But West Coast will now renew its push to field its own side as soon as next season.
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"All the (WAFL) clubs know that's always been our preferred position, so I think it's fair to say that they'd be expecting our positioning," CEO Trevor Nisbett told AFL.com.au.
"I think most of the WAFL clubs would probably have a better handle on whether that's a good thing or not, compared to where we were five years ago.
"I think they would look at it more favourably these days, so hopefully they will and we can push ahead pretty quickly for our sake and East Perth's sake.
"It needs to work for East Perth, too. They need to get recruiting and get some senior players in.
"Once they get some senior players in, it's full steam ahead for them and there won't be any room for our guys.
"So that's going to be the issue if we stayed for another year."
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If the Eagles were granted their own WAFL team in 2019 it would coincide with the club's move from long-time home Subiaco Oval to their Lathlain Park facility.
If another partnership was required, Perth – based at Lathlain – looms as the obvious candidate.
A West Coast side would increase the WAFL competition to 10 teams and remove the bye.
Nisbett said it hasn't been discussed if a West Coast side in the WAFL would play for points and finals qualification.
"No idea. We haven't discussed anything yet. All we know is the Royals are out," he said.
"We're OK with that, that's fine. That's their decision. Now we need to push ahead and find out where we can find out where we can play all our players together.
"It never is (ideal timing) but we understand East Perth's position.
"They need to get moving if they're going to get a team together for next year.
"They've got some juniors coming through but they will need to recruit some senior players."
East Perth had concerns about financial viability when it entered into a partnership with the Eagles for the 2014 campaign, as Fremantle linked up with Peel.
The Thunder has won the past two premierships and is locked in with the Dockers until 2021.
East Perth finished top in 2014 but lost the Grand Final and missed finals for the first time under the West Coast partnership last year.
The Royals are currently seventh on the ladder with a 4-7 record.
In a statement, East Perth CEO Dean Turner said the board unanimously voted to end the Eagles partnership.
"While the partnership has been successful for both clubs, we agree that it is appropriate to now move in separate directions," Turner said.
"Whilst the partnership has not been without challenges, these have arisen because both clubs were focused on getting the best results from the partnership.
"There are still many details to work through to finalise our standalone arrangement.
"East Perth, the West Coast Eagles and the WAFC are working together to establish what the exit strategy is and what the timeline for this will be."
