FRIDAY night's memorable win over Geelong at Patersons Stadium moved West Coast a step closer to securing a top-four berth, but it also highlighted the long list of outstanding performers the Eagles have had this year to a national audience.
Should John Worsfold's side continue its stunning resurgence and secure the double-chance in September, the All Australian selectors will be forced to take a closer look at some of the Eagles that might not be in their plans right now.
It is an interesting situation, with selection in the All Australian team usually reward for an outstanding season as well as a more extended period of high performance.
Dean Cox, who is the clear frontrunner for the No.1 ruck spot, spent 2010 below his best after battling injury, while key defender Darren Glass missed 14 games with an abdominal injury. Still, the pair's credentials are well understood.
Half-backs Shannon Hurn (15 games) and Sam Butler (five), however, had interrupted seasons, while the continued improvement of Matt Priddis wasn't highlighted in a wooden spoon campaign.
Eventual club champion Mark LeCras, who was named in a forward pocket, was the only West Coast player to make the 40-man squad, but this year there are as many as eight Eagles who deserve to be considered as serious All Australian contenders.
Cox, who has averaged more than 30 hit-outs and 19 possessions a game this season, is perhaps the one certainty at this point.
From there, captain Glass, who has been the Eagles' rock in a young and revitalised defence, half-back Shannon Hurn and midfielder Matt Priddis are pressing strong claims.
The competition for Hurn and Priddis' spots is hot, but both have been outstanding.
Priddis is ranked second in the League for contested possessions (217) and eighth for clearances (87), while Hurn has developed both as a reliable lockdown option and an offensive weapon when left to play as a loose man.
Forwards LeCras and Josh Kennedy also remain in the mix. Kennedy, who has booted 40 goals in 14 games, sits behind Lance Franklin and Jack Riewoldt in the Coleman Medal race and would need a strong finish to the season to dislodge one of them in the 22.
LeCras, however, who has booted 27 goals, has impressed this season when spending time in the midfield, enjoying a purple patch between rounds eight and 11 during which he averaged 24 possessions, five inside 50s, 4.5 clearances and two goals a game.
Andrew Embley's renaissance this season deserves recognition, but he faces an uphill battle to dislodge the game's many midfield stars in the All Australian side. Half-back Sam Butler is another Eagle who has claims, but a quad injury is likely to end his chances.
The list of top West Coast performers this year can be extended to ruckman Nic Naitanui, forwards Quinten Lynch and Mark Nicoski, and midfielder Daniel Kerr, but the team may still end the year with just one or two All Australian players.
With some runs on the board, it could be a different story all together in 2012.
CLUB BY CLUB
COLLINGWOOD: Roundly regarded as the competition's best team, the Pies are back where they belong on top of the ladder. Their young players' ability to have an impact when given chances is terrific, with second-gamer Luke Rounds this week's example.
GEELONG: Missed chances in front of goal cost Geelong what would have been an incredible comeback win. The Cats kicked 2.5 in a dominant last quarter against West Coast, going inside 50 an incredible 20 times to five.
HAWTHORN: Staying injury-free in Saturday's 42-point win over the Brisbane Lions was the biggest positive for the Hawks, with West Coast putting pressure on third and fourth spot.
CARLTON: The Blues could lose two in a row for the first time this season with this Saturday's clash against Collingwood coming on the back of a shock loss to the Bulldogs. Should still finish top four, however.
WEST COAST: The Eagles are playing desperate football, with Brad Ebert and Ash Smith two young players who put their bodies on the line at critical moments against Geelong.
SYDNEY SWANS: With a reputation for getting excellent service from recycled players, the Swans now appear to have some talented youngsters emerging. Forward Sam Reid (three goals against Gold Coast) continues to impress, while first-year midfielder Luke Parker had 26 possessions and seven inside 50s in his fifth game.
FREMANTLE: With a tough draw at home that sees it play four of the current top five teams at Patersons Stadium in the run home, away wins are crucial for Fremantle to make the finals. A season defining month starts against the Sydney Swans at the SCG on Sunday.
ESSENDON: What a debut season Dyson Heppell is having, with his chances of taking out the Bombers' best and fairest award growing by the week.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: The Dogs will be a feared opponent in the run to the finals - and potentially in them - after kicking seven unanswered goals against the Blues to notch their fourth consecutive win.
MELBOURNE: Leading into last week's bye was a good opportunity for Demon fans to turn their attention to looming father-son selection Jack Viney, who was typically hard at it for Vic Metro in the final round of the NAB Under-18 AFL Championships.
ST KILDA: Much like the Dogs, no team wants to play the finals-hardened Saints in the first week of September. Momentum and belief is returning after four wins from six games.
NORTH MELBOURNE: The Roos' weaknesses were again too easily exploited against top opposition. They lacked run and spread against Collingwood, leadership in the backline was missing and the goalkicking yips continued (they have kicked a total of 10.26 in two games against the Pies this season).
RICHMOND: After last week's effort, the fight shown for two-and-a-half quarters (and during the quarter-time melee) would have been a welcome sight for Tiger fans. Now for four quarters.
ADELAIDE: Out of the finals race and coming off a bye, the main point of interest at Adelaide each week remains coach Neil Craig.
BRISBANE LIONS: The 2008 NAB AFL Draft is shaping as a beauty and Jack Redden is working his way towards the pointy end of the class after being selected at No.25. Ranked third in the AFL this year for tackles.
PORT ADELAIDE: On track for its worst ever AFL season, Port should look west to last year's wooden spooners for inspiration.
GOLD COAST: No.2 draft pick Harley Bennell's return to the side after missing four matches for disciplinary reasons was a positive in a 70-point loss.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dane Swan's 12-day spell of high-altitude training in Arizona is reaping clear benefits after a best on ground performance against North Melbourne on Sunday. Swan's power running was evident in his first two matches back, and against the Roos the big numbers returned, racking up 39 disposals - his most since round two. The 27-year-old said his body was feeling as good as it has since the start of the year.
THE TWITTERATTI
"Can we please get Andrew Bolt off every other show on TV at the moment I have NO time for his archaic opinions and beliefs." Richmond's Daniel Jackson (@DanJackson23) vents his frustration during Sunday night's carbon tax programming.
Adelaide's Matthew Jaensch (@matt_jaensch) also got political: "The Labor party/the Greens, single handedly ruining our great country. Bob Brown you make me feel sick!"
THIS WEEK'S GAME NOT TO BE MISSED
Carlton-Collingwood, Saturday at the MCG. Saturday afternoon football is back at the 'G with a bang, with these arch enemies set to meet in front of more than 90,000 fans. The Pies are back on top, with the Blues fighting to hold their place in the top four after a 27-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.
