THE EUPHORIA of West Coast's classic Grand Final triumph won't fade anytime soon, and the Eagles deserve to bask in the glow of their fourth flag after rising to meet every challenge during a testing campaign.
However, behind the scenes, there is already plenty of work underway to ensure Adam Simpson's squad remains in premiership contention next season and beyond.
The Eagles' depth has been lauded after an unforgettable season decider, when match-winner Dom Sheed, Nathan Vardy and Will Schofield all played important roles after replacing Andrew Gaff (suspension), Nic Naitanui (knee) and Brad Sheppard (hamstring) late in the campaign.
HOMECOMING HEROES Fans greet victorious Eagles
But with restricted free agent Gaff being courted by North Melbourne and ruckman Scott Lycett expected to nominate Port Adelaide as his preferred destination, list manager Brady Rawlings looks set for a busy month bolstering the midfield stocks.
While the Eagles haven't yet given up on Gaff, and have the right to match any offer, most believe the prolific onballer will be plying his trade in Victoria in 2019.
First-year Geelong revelation Tim Kelly shapes as an ideal replacement for the left-footer, and an end of first round compensation pick for losing Gaff could help get a deal done for the mature WA onballer, if the Cats are willing to let him go.
The ruck department shapes as Rawlings' most pressing concern, and even during Grand Final week the Eagles were working on contingencies ahead of Lycett's expected departure and with star Naitanui set to miss most of 2019.
Giants big man Rory Lobb held talks with West Coast officials last Tuesday, while Bulldogs free agent Jordan Roughead – who could offer key defensive support after Eric Mackenzie's retirement - has toured the club's facilities and St Kilda's Tom Hickey is also on the radar after undergoing a medical.
With an incredible 60,000-seat stadium, state-of-the-art Lathlain Park headquarters under construction and history of qualifying for the most finals campaigns (22) in the AFL era, the Eagles were an attractive destination before Saturday's premiership, albeit primarily for WA players keen to return home.
Nothing makes a club more attractive than success. Picture: AFL Photos
But with the club capitalising on a period of sustained success after four-straight September campaigns under Simpson, West Coast's sell to trade targets should be that little bit easier.
The Eagles won't lose many of their flag-winning squad before next season and, from an age perspective, the list is balanced, with only 32-year-old Mark LeCras' future in any doubt.
A number of the other influential senior core are closer to the end of their careers than the beginning, but have plenty of good football left in them.
Whether Naitanui's athleticism (29) will be diminished and career-shortened by his second knee reconstruction are great unknowns, but skipper Shannon Hurn (31), Chris Masten, Lewis Jetta, Schofield (29) and Luke Shuey (28) enjoyed excellent campaigns and show no signs of slowing down.
Josh Kennedy (31) was pivotal in September after an injury-plagued year and while it remains to be seen how long the battle-scarred dual Coleman medallist can continue to perform at an elite level, the Eagles can be content at securing a flag with the generational forward delivering on the big stage.
It will take a lot to replace a forward of Josh Kennedy's calibre. Picture: AFL Photos
His three-goal, 11-mark performance as the Eagles overran Collingwood has, in many peoples' eyes, finally stamped West Coast as the clear winners from the Chris Judd trade at the end of 2007.
Replacing Kennedy in years ahead looms as the biggest challenge on West Coast's horizon, but Jack Darling (26) showed he can dominate games this year and his peak should still be to come, while young talls Jarrod Brander, Oscar Allen and Jake Waterman are exciting talents.
With Jack Redden (28 in December), Nathan Vardy, Mark Hutchings, Brad Sheppard (all 27), Jeremy McGovern, Jamie Cripps (26) and Elliot Yeo (25) in their primes, there should be no reason why the Eagles aren't right back in the flag race next year.
Meanwhile, Sheed, Tom Barrass, Willie Rioli, Liam Duggan, Liam Ryan, Daniel Venables and Tom Cole are aged 23 or under, and have plenty of improvement left in them.
West Coast handed debuts to eight players in 2018 – the equal-most in the League – and competition for spots should only heat up as more impressive youngsters look for their shot at the elite level.
The biggest question hanging over the Eagles, as with any premiership side, will be their collective hunger to contend again next season.
But after coming back from 29 points down and ending a 12-year premiership drought in an epic Grand Final, that concern will, understandably, be the last thing on the players' minds right now.
