WEST Coast's season is on the line at AAMI Stadium against Adelaide on Saturday night. After starting the season as one of the flag fancies the Eagles have fallen well short of expectations. They started the season 1-4, and while they have won five of their last eight, at 6-7 the Eagles sit eight points out of the top eight with nine matches remaining. So what has happened to West Coast this season?
The highs
The high point of the year was Nic Naitanui's extraordinary mark and goal after the siren to beat North Melbourne at Patersons Stadium in round eight. But the euphoria of that moment concealed the fact that the Kangaroos led by 15 points at the 16-minute mark of the last quarter. Josh Kennedy has been a standout for West Coast up forward. He is leading the Coleman medal race (alongside Collingwood's Travis Cloke, but with a game in hand) through 13 rounds with 41 goals to his name.
The lows
The Eagles' kicking has plagued them all year. They have lost three games this year when outscoring their opponents and it would have been four save for Naitanui's heroics against North Melbourne. West Coast is fourth in total scores in the competition this season with 369 (192 goals, 177 behinds). Only Hawthorn (398), Geelong (389), and Essendon (370) have scored more and those sides occupy the top three spots on the ladder. The Eagles are second in total hit outs and clearances in the AFL yet they are third last in effective disposal efficiency. Those statistics suggest that they are winning the stoppages regularly but are not capitalising on that with their ball use.
Where will the Eagles finish? Use the AFL.com.au Ladder Predictor to find out
The injuries
West Coast has only had four players play every game this year. That is the equal lowest in the AFL. North Melbourne and the Sydney Swans each have 13 players who have played every game this year. The Eagles have missed key players at key times. Nic Naitanui missed the first five games after groin issues during the pre-season. Daniel Kerr has missed three matches and will miss a fourth against Adelaide. Off-season recruit Sharrod Wellingham has played just three times due to successive ankle injuries. Premiership players Beau Waters, Sam Butler, Andrew Embley, and Adam Selwood have missed 24 matches between them. But the cruelest blow came after the loss to Hawthorn when reigning club champion Scott Selwood was ruled out for six to eight weeks, and key rebound defender Shannon Hurn for eight to ten weeks.
The coach
While West Coast has played down the uncertainty of John Worsfold's future, the constant speculation must be taking its toll on key figures inside the club. Worsfold refuses to discuss his contract situation until season's end and CEO Trevor Nisbett has supported that position. Chairman Alan Cransberg and several senior players are on record saying they want Worsfold to re-sign whenever his is ready. Whether Worsfold wants to continue is another question entirely.
The future
The immediate future is a brutal three-week stretch against Adelaide, Fremantle, and the Sydney Swans that could make or break the Eagles' season. Their final month of the home and away season includes clashes with Essendon, Geelong, Collingwood, and the Crows again. If the Eagles lose their next three then they may have to put the cue in the rack and look towards 2014. That would mean weighing up the futures of Andrew Embley and Adam Selwood against giving development opportunities to youngsters. Mark Hutchings and Blayne Wilson have shown potential in their debut seasons and there are number of others waiting in the WAFL who need senior games to develop further as footballers.
The loss of reigning best and fairest winner Scott Selwood has hurt the Eagles. Picture: AFL Media
