West Coast and Richmond on the brink as AFL title hopes fade

Just a month after the Eagles trumped the Tigers in a thriller in Perth, both West Coast and Richmond look more likely to miss the eight than contend for a premiership.

Eagle Jack Darling walks from Optus Stadium after a dispiriting loss to North Melbourne that leaves West Coast in a fight to hold a spot in the eight. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

When West Coast edged Richmond in a thriller one month ago, it appeared the hopes of both premiership fancies were about to enjoy an upturn.

A five-goal burst in the final term was enough for the Eagles to beat the Tigers by four points in a match where the big names including Josh Kennedy and Dustin Martin were dangerous.

West Coast sat equal fourth. Richmond was just one game behind. Neither side was fully firing, but the double chance was still alive and, as a result, so too their premiership hopes.

In recent seasons, the Tigers had held ground to the middle of the season and then finished with a sizzling surge. The Eagles were expecting a host of premiership stars to return.

The opposite has occurred. To say the wheels have fallen off the contenders since is an understatement after a woeful month from both clubs.

West Coast remains in the eight, but only by default given the struggles of other fringe sides, with the Eagles percentage dropping by 13 points to put them under significant pressure.

Richmond has slumped to 12th, with the Tigers percentage also below 100.

Both clubs have had issues with personnel and form, with triple-premiership captain Trent Cotchin the latest Tigers star to be scrutinised due to a dip in performance.

Rather than improving with the return of established players, the Eagles have declined sharply, a point conceded by senior coach Adam Simpson.

“Our best players aren’t playing their best footy. Their talent hasn’t gone away, so we’re going to keep working on that,” Simpson said.

A form ladder between rounds 13 and 17 confirms what even the most one-eyed of fans would concede. It is the formline of cellar dwellers, not premiership aspirants.

The Tigers, so supreme over the past four years, are the worst performed club in the past month. They were outpointed, out-hunted and out-tackled by the lowly Magpies on Sunday.

West Coast, the 2018 premier, would sit second last with a percentage of just 58.31. And the cracks are showing on-field.

The Eagles were beaten on Monday night by the improving North Melbourne which, despite sitting last, played with far more vigour and verve than West Coast.

The home side was inaccurate early but also extremely undisciplined. They struggle in the wet, but they surged in the last quarter to hit the front, only to be reeled in by a far more desperate side.

Eagles premiership players were pleading with their peers to be disciplined and defensive, as demonstrated by the spray Elliot Yeo delivered to Jeremy McGovern.

Champion spearhead Josh Kennedy said on Tuesday it was not unusual for teammates to exchange spirited points of view during a match and was sure they would “be fine”.

The dual-Coleman Medallist said inaccuracy early and a lack of pressure after half-time was critical, noting the Eagles have also struggled to deal with momentum swings this year.

The next six weeks will show whether the downturn is a blip or terminal. That champions on both sides are ageing is indisputable. Questions have arisen as to whether their best is now past them.

Simpson still believes the Eagles “have a bit in them”. Tigers coach Damian Hardwick would undoubtedly say the same about Richmond.

Top four hopes may be gone, and with that their flag chances, but the other sides in contention for the bottom two rungs in the eight are scarcely sparking either, though St Kilda and Fremantle have improved.

Is the hope of the Eagles and Tigers delusional? Kennedy sounded like an eternal optimist when speaking on Perth radio station 6PR on Tuesday when stating the loss to the Kangaroos was a step forward.

The logic is that although beaten by the bottom-placed side, admittedly one that is improving, they had at least played with some connection compared to a week earlier against Sydney.

The Eagles face Adelaide, which have lost three in succession, and then host St Kilda in what is shaping as a crucial clash for the fringe top eight contenders.

Richmond must fire a shot against either Brisbane on Friday night or Geelong a week later to stay in touch with the eight.

The final six rounds of the home-and-away season will be fascinating as to whether the one-time contenders enter spring with optimism or exit winter in despair with decisions to be made on club favourites.