WINGED West Coast defender Eric Mackenzie feels like he will have played a part in the Eagles' success if they can defy the doubters and swoop on this year's flag.
Mackenzie suffered a season-ending knee injury during the NAB Challenge, which robbed the Eagles of their reigning club champion and No.1 key defender.
Just weeks later, pundits rushed to write-off West Coast's finals chances after disaster struck again when Mitch Brown ruptured his ACL in the round one loss to the Western Bulldogs.
But guided by Adam Simpson's masterplan, the Eagles' undersized backline has held firm – with Mackenzie chipping in by mentoring the likes of rising star Jeremy McGovern.
"As much as you'd love to be part of it, I've still been involved this year helping out a few of the guys," Mackenzie told AFL.com.au at the AFL Players' Association MVP awards in Melbourne.
"It's just good to see the growth in the group – the development that's happened across the whole year (in) Simmo's second year in charge, he's done such a great job."
For most of the season, it appeared West Coast's defensive web was only one long-term injury to McGovern or full-back Will Schofield away from crashing down.
But the Eagles boasted the fourth-best defence in the AFL this season, with skipper Shannon Hurn, Elliot Yeo, Brad Sheppard and Sharrod Wellingham often fighting outside their weight division and winning.
Mackenzie said the success hasn't come as a surprise to him after he and his teammates started getting the hang of Simpson's team defence in a strong finish to last season.
"It was something we were working towards, especially last year," he said.
"Our six rounds last year probably showed the potential we had and then obviously this year we've stepped up from there.
"It's very exciting. They're playing a good brand of footy, everyone's bought in and it's just an exciting time around the club at the moment."
While Simpson has led the Eagles to a home preliminary final and into premiership favouritism, Mackenzie has been steadily following his rehabilitation from his traditional knee reconstruction.
He resumed running in July and has an eye on returning to full training when pre-season starts in December.
The 27-year-old is excited about returning to a maturing playing group, which should still be firmly in premiership contention next season.
"I've been back running now for a couple of months. I've been doing straight-line stuff for the last month and now I've just stepped it up changing direction and those kind of things," Mackenzie said.
"(I'm) feeling good. I'm getting a lot more confidence in (my knee). The more I do, the more confident I am in it. It's still just time that I can't speed up.
"I'm looking forward to getting back and playing with the boys next year. Everyone's on the same page, they work so well together, so hopefully I don't wreck that chemistry next year when I come back."
