ADELAIDE has ruined West Coast's retirement party for Andrew Embley and Adam Selwood with a thumping 86-point win at Patersons Stadium on Saturday night.
The Crows dominated the Eagles from start to finish, winning 19.15 (129) to 5.12 (43) in front of a disappointing crowd of 29,416.
Both sides had little to play for after Carlton sealed a finals spot before the opening bounce. The Crows finished the year on a positive note with their 10th win of the year after going within a kick of reaching last season's Grand Final.
"I'm smiling through gritted teeth because I'm really disappointed and I'm shattered for our fans because they have had to deal with a lot this year," Crows coach Brenton Sanderson said.
"We have had a lot of challenges, a lot of setbacks. Unfortunately, we miss out on a finals campaign, but we have just got to come back better next season."
The Eagles suffered their 13th loss of the season and their ninth at home in a year they would want to quickly forget. The Eagles kicked just 16 goals across their last three games.
"The boys were pretty shot," Eagles coach John Worsfold said.
"They really just struggled to get themselves up mentally, I believe.
"That happens - teams go through those phases."
"There's a lot of reasons behind that and it's not really acceptable. It's a year that our club won't cop. We are not happy with it."
The Crows midfielders were the architects of their team's dominance.
Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Thompson, Brad Crouch, Brodie Smith and Rory Sloane each had more than 23 disposals and kicked 10 goals between them.
Mitchell Grigg and Andy Otten had career-best nights in front of goal with three each.
Matt Priddis had 35 disposals and Dean Cox 27 touches and 27 hit-outs in a West Coast side with few contributors.
With the aid of a strong breeze the Crows kicked four goals to none in the opening term to silence a home crowd hoping to farewell their retiring premiership heroes with a win.
The Eagles trailed by 25 points at quarter-time having trailed by more than four goals at quarter-time in their previous two matches against Geelong and Collingwood.
The home side fought back in the second term but skill errors going forward meant the Eagles could not eat into the Crows' advantage. Andy Otten's second goal late in the term saw the Crows lead by 30 points at half-time.
The third term was a mauling with the Crows kicking seven goals to one to lead by 68 points at the last change.
Dangerfield moved forward and kicked three goals for the quarter showing his versatility and strength as he matched up against Darren Glass at various stages.
Eagles fans had one moment to savour with Simon Tunbridge, in just his second match, conjuring one of the best goals of the season.
He was alone against two Crows deep inside 50 with Kyle Hartigan tracking the loose ball back towards the pocket. Tunbridge sprinted past the attempted shepherd of Ben Rutten, dispossessed Hartigan with a ferocious tackle, bounced to his feet, swooped on the loose ball and dribbled it through off the left foot from a tight angle.
It was a rare highlight in a performance that is sure to put more pressure on Worsfold.
The loss sees West Coast finish in 13th position, a significant fall since the team's pre-season tag as premiership favourites.
Adelaide ends the year in 10th and just one win outside the finals.
Eagle Chris Masten lunges for the ball on Saturday night against Adelaide. Photo: AFL Media.
WEST COAST 0.3 3.7 4.8 5.12 (42)
ADELAIDE 4.4 8.7 15.10 19.15 (129)
GOALS
West Coast: Tunbridge 2, Smith, Dalziell, Wellingham
Adelaide: Dangerfield 3, Otten 3, Grigg 3, Couch 2, Sloane 2, Thompson 2, van Berlo, Smith, Callinan, Tambling
BEST
West Coast: Cox, S.Selwood, Priddis, Rosa, Dalziell
Adelaide: Dangerfield, Thompson, Crouch, Otten, Douglas, Smith, Sloane
INJURIES
West Coast: Jack Darling (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Bradd Dalziell
Adelaide: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Adam Selwood replaced Mitch Brown during the third quarter
Adelaide: David Mackay replaced Ian Callinan during the fourth quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Fleer, Wenn, Foot
Official crowd: 29,416 at the Patersons Stadium
