What went right?
It took until the second half of the season, but West Coast's next batch of highly-rated youngsters proved they are going to be solid AFL players. Second-year midfielders Chris Masten and Brad Ebert emerged after the mid-season break as potential A-graders, while Tom Swift showed in the last month of the season that he will reward the patient.
The Eagles also unearthed a key-position spine that could drive their next successful era. Josh Kennedy took giant steps in attack, while defender Eric Mackenzie's first half of the season was very encouraging. Mitch Brown made a superb return from a knee reconstruction and could fill a spot at either end of the ground.
When it came to leadership, West Coast decided that John Worsfold was the man to take the club back to the top of the ladder. The coach's mid-year re-signing for another two years was carried out without much fuss. First-year assistant coaches Scott Burns and Daniel Metropolis also earned praise.
What went wrong?
While the young and old came and went around them, Dean Cox and Daniel Kerr were supposed to be the star pair that stabilised West Coast's 2009 rebuild. Kerr (adductor) didn’t play after round 13 and had struggled with taggers to that point Cox (groin) carried the side until round 12 but managed just one more game.
Beau Waters' continued absence was a cruel blow. He didn’t play a game in 2009 and had his third operation on a troublesome elbow that was first injured in July 2008.
A 19-game losing streak on the road finally ended in round 19, but, as was the case in 2008, the Eagles couldn't conjure a winning formula away from Subiaco Oval. Losses to the lowly Richmond (round 12) and Melbourne (round 14) made the side's road woes an ongoing issue until their victory over the Bulldogs.
Most valuable player
Mark LeCras kicked off his campaign with six goals against the Brisbane Lions and went on to boot 58 for the season as one of the competition's most effective small forwards. After some impressive turns in the midfield late in the season, Worsfold must now decide if he is a permanent small forward, a midfielder or a player who does both. Captain Darren Glass, Adam Selwood and Shannon Hurn all had superb seasons.
Coach's award for one-percenters
Quinten Lynch's consistent season should also see him recognised among West Coast's top five performers this year, but he would have earned the coach's praise on a weekly basis for doing the hard stuff. Lynch played every game, but rarely in the same role for two straight weeks. In a rebuilding year he was always there to plug holes forward, back and most notably in the ruck when Cox was injured.
Needs a big pre-season
Tony Notte has always been viewed as a long-term prospect, and the 19-year-old has plenty of time on his side. But after two seasons in the AFL system, the full forward prospect will be itching to pile on some kilos and play a handful of games at AFL level next year.
Overall grade: C
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
