West Coast's 1992 premiership side celebrates again

MICK Malthouse returned to West Coast to hold the 1992 premiership cup aloft with John Worsfold at the Eagles' 20th anniversary celebrations.

MICK Malthouse returned to West Coast for just the second time since he left 13 years ago to hold the 1992 premiership cup aloft with John Worsfold at the Eagles' 20th anniversary celebrations today.

The captain and coach re-enacting the lifting of the cup was the highlight of the flag reunion function, held in front of 600 guests at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Eighteen of the 20 flag-winning players were present, with Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna and the late Chris Mainwaring the only absentees.

In a poignant moment to end the four-hour function, a curtain dropped to unveil the players in a team photo pose, with a spare seat in recognition of the loss of Mainwaring left next to fellow wingman Peter Matera.

Star full forward Peter Sumich, who booted six goals in the 16.17 (113) to 12.13 (85) Grand Final victory over Geelong, arrived late after being required at Fremantle's match committee meeting.

It was the first West Coast function Sumich has attended since leaving the club to join the Dockers at the end of last season, with Worsfold's former right hand man not invited to last season's club champion awards after he walked out.

Malthouse, who also attended the 10-year anniversary in 2002, said he found it easier to attend this function because he was no longer associated with Collingwood.

"Clubs are exclusive to me. I didn't feel very comfortable going back to any other organisation when I was coaching," he said.

"And even now I still find it very difficult to even contemplate going backwards.

"I've always tried to look at things through a windscreen as opposed to a rear-view mirror.

"The way I've always treated football clubs is that you jump on at a certain time and you get off at a certain time. And it's in that period that you've got to have an impact."

Matera, the 1992 Norm Smith medallist after starring with five goals, said he couldn't believe two decades had passed.

"It's very rarely we get in the same room together but for this to happen today, it's just like yesterday," he said.

"The day was special and memories are always there. When you're watching grand finals you say to yourself we were there one day and we took the cup home."

Matera said his famous running "sets sail for home" goal in the third quarter, which put the Eagles in front after they had trailed at quarter and half-time, was a moment that was still cherished by his family.

"Mainly just at family gatherings, they want to open up the video cabinet and have a look," he said.

"It's just one of those things that will stick with you for the rest of your life, you were a part of it with a great group of guys and this will be with you until you die.

"We spent so many years together going through all the hard yards, bleeding for each other day to day, and it was pretty hard for us because today's footy is totally different to when we played.

"To do what we did in a period when not many people thought we could - it was just great to achieve that goal."