IT WAS unexpected, but it wasn't a surprise.

That sums up John Worsfold's resignation, and his year, in a nutshell.

Worsfold is a mystery wrapped in a riddle locked in a bank vault.

The 2006 premiership coach gives nothing away at the best of times but he dropped enough bread crumbs across the year to leave you wondering whether there is more to this than meets the eye.
 

He may still add to an impressive coaching record if reports of a pitch from the Brisbane Lions to recruit him are to be believed.
 

The seeds for Worsfold's departure were sewn in April.

After the Eagles lost their first two matches of the year Matthew Lloyd asserted that if the Eagles didn't win the flag, the club should part ways with Worsfold.

The coach's response was intriguing. 

"Maybe our board think that. I don't know," Worsfold said.

"I think at the end of this year, myself and the club will discuss where the team's at, and how it's performed, and the best way to go forward."

They didn't win the flag. They didn't come close.

Worsfold delivered some other prophetic answers at the same press conference in April.

He was asked about the lifespan of coaches at a single club.

"There's not a lot of data on long-term coaching stints," Worsfold said.

"Not in the current era of lasting more than 10 years at one club." 

Worsfold lasted 12 seasons. He has coached in 281 matches for West Coast. Only five coaches – Jock McHale (714 at Collingwood), Kevin Sheedy (635 at Essendon), Allan Jeans (332 at St Kilda), Norm Smith (307 at Melbourne), Michael Malthouse (286 at Collingwood) have coached more games at the one club.

Worsfold was also asked about Mark Neeld's plight at Melbourne.

"How tough is it for a new coach to be under this pressure? It's tough for an experienced coach as in a Malthouse or a Sheedy going through it. It's tough," Worsfold said.

The Eagles slumped to 1-4 and Worsfold's future suddenly grew from a seed to a story. His side was dealing with injury issues but they lost to Carlton and Port Adelaide on the back of inaccurate kicking.

Worsfold and the Eagles players said it was an area they needed to improve. They never did. Nic Naitanui's goal after the siren saved more blushes against North Melbourne, as Eric Mackenzie's late goal did against St Kilda the week before Mark Neeld lost his job.

West Coast would finish second last in the AFL in disposal efficiency and they lost a third match due to inaccurate kicking, against Essendon in round 14, after leading by 23-points in time on in the third term.

Worsfold was asked what had happened to his side that night. His answer provided little insight into the game but revealed a great deal more about Worsfold's state of mind.

"Ah, seven points," Worsfold said.

As the season slipped away Worsfold's answers on finals, and his contract, became shorter and shorter until the silence was deafening.

But after the Eagles beat the floundering Bombers in round 20 by 53-points, the most extraordinary about-face followed. 

Just 24-hours after Michael Voss' sacking at Brisbane, Worsfold suddenly had the desire to coach on. 

"Alan Cransberg has made it public that they're keen for me to coach on if I've got the passion, and I've indicated that I'm keen to coach on," Worsfold said.

"At this stage, things are starting to line-up."

A week later after a 66-point hiding from Geelong, Worsfold stated he would prefer a two-year extension. When asked if he would accept one year his response was damning.

"Don't know," Worsfold said. 

"I would have to work out why. Why is it only one?" Worsfold said.

Two days later Eagles CEO Trevor Nisbett was not discussing length of contract before the Eagles faced Collingwood, but rather if there would be a contract at all.

"It's like any business decision, you have to make the decision on looking at everything across the year," Nisbett told 3AW. 

"We need to make the right decision and we want John to coach us next year, but we want to make sure we're correct."

Worsfold doubted his own credentials after another 62-point drubbing three hours later.

But a week is a long time in football.

Following the Eagles final humiliation of the season, an 86-point loss to Adelaide at home, Worsfold was bullish again saying he felt he had total support of the board and that he could rebuild this group again as he had done after the wooden spoon of 2010.

"I'm capable of doing it," Worsfold said

"I've done it a couple of times before and I'm capable of doing it. There's no doubt about that."

Five days later he resigned saying his "time is done".

As he did when his playing career ended, he exits quietly and humbly with no fanfare at all.

It is not befitting of the club's greatest ever figure, but it is befitting of Worsfold.