West Coast’s AFL list examined: What Andrew McQualter has really inherited as Eagles pass rock bottom
Reid. Allen. McGovern. Chesser. Kelly. Has Andrew McQualter’s West Coast rebuild hit rock bottom – or is worse yet to come? We run the rule over the people, problems and future plans.
It’s football’s equivalent of a perfect storm, be it bad luck, bad management or a combination of both.
But however you wish to describe it, West Coast’s tumble from a premiership in 2018 to a wooden spoon in 2023 and ultimately a start to 2025 that has reignited discussion of priority picks, the Eagles’ list has never been worse off than it is now.
With just three games to go before its mid-season bye, the Eagles currently sit 18th with a percentage of 64.6.
It was never going to be easy for new coach Andrew McQualter who is in the process of implementing a new game style. But he’s been handicapped by decisions and miscalculations of the past.
The evolution of West Coast’s list reads like a series of unfortunate events.
Tim Kelly was supposed to be the final piece of the puzzle after Geelong held firm in 2018 and forced the Eagles to sell the farm a year later. Instead, he was part of the problem.
The All-Australian midfielder has played in just one final since returning home to WA. The Eagles had to cough up two first-round picks 14 and a future first-round selection, which fell at No.18 in 2020) and selections No.24 and No.33, severely handicapping West Coast’s ability to bring in young talent across that two-year period.
Just one player from the 2019 and 2020 drafts, Callum Jamieson, is still on the list today and he’s out of contract at the end of the season.
The Eagles have been unlucky.
A horrific concussion cut Daniel Venables’ career short. Brad Sheppard’s too. Willie Rioli’s misadventure saw him sidelined for two years before eventually requesting a trade to Port Adelaide.
A frustrating run of injuries, some career-ending, didn’t help. But West Coast is also to blame for the deterioration of its list.
Since the 2018 premiership, the Eagles have torched millions of dollars on long-term deals for underperforming or injured stars.
The tide has turned but West Coast is still paying the price.
With one win on the board, half a season to come and the club’s three most important players in Jeremy McGovern, Elliot Yeo and Jake Waterman sidelined long-term, is it possible the Eagles haven’t hit rock bottom yet?
“It can’t get much worse,” 2018 premiership Eagle Will Schofield told CODE Sports. “You don’t need to get rid of all of your good players to bottom out.
“You can rebuild while holding onto good players and good leaders. You can’t just have 44 23-year-olds because they don’t know what they’re doing. You need Cripps, Yeo, McGovern and co to show players how to train, how to perform and prepare.
“I think they have bottomed out. Their performance and their consistency…it can’t get much worse and that’s been the case for the past few years.”
📽| A remarkable home and away season from Tim Kelly, the AFLPA Best First Year Player ðŸ‘#StandProud#WeAreGeelongpic.twitter.com/fumzp9eSgi
— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) August 30, 2018
Fremantle great Paul Hasleby tends to think the worst is behind West Coast.
“The Eagles have passed rock bottom...there’s enough there,” he told SEN after the Eagles win against St Kilda. “I think they’re going to challenge in every game and start to win more quarters.”
Just seven players remain from the 2018 premiership side, including McGovern, whose career is on a knife’s edge due to concussion, and flag hero Dom Sheed who hasn’t been sighted this year due to an ACL rupture.
Here’s where the Eagles list is at, what the plan is at Lathlain and what could be in store.
DON’T CALL IT A REBUILD…UNTIL YOU HAVE TO
The path back to the top has already been slowed by West Coast’s reluctance to admit it was set for a stint at the bottom.
It took former chief executive Trevor Nisbett until March 2023 to publicly acknowledge for the first time that the Eagles were undertaking a rebuild. West Coast finished 17th on the ladder the previous season, winning just two games.
“The strategy is to get games into our kids. We need to work through the rebuild, transition, whatever you like to call it,” Nisbett told CODE Sports on the eve of the 2023 season.
While the Eagles’ 2022 campaign was severely disrupted by injuries to key players and COVID-19 health and safety protocols, then coach Adam Simpson refused to use the ‘R’ word, instead labelling it a list “transition.”
In one of his first interviews as head of football, returning club great John Worsfold said the Eagles took too long to face reality.
“Most people have felt as though they (the Eagles) weren’t 100 per cent sure of the pathway back to success,” Worsfold told 6PR in October last year.
“They weren’t sure they could see it or hear it talked about. I know we’ve talked about the rebuild and maybe there was too much of a delay to admit the club was going to go into that full rebuild mode as in have a reasonable dip down the ladder before they start to climb back.
“It felt as though people, after a couple of years struggling and then the club started to talk about focusing on bouncing back, and people were a bit frustrated it was already two years gone.
“Just being absolutely clear on where we sit, what the pathway forward is going to be, what that’s going to look like, you can’t always put an exact timeline on it but I think you should have a pretty strong idea looking at the demographic of your playing list about when you think you’re going to become very competitive again.”
Back in 2022 on a rapid route to rock bottom, West Coast was the only AFL club that hadn’t used a top 10 draft pick in the past decade.
That changed at the end of the year when the Eagles selected Reuben Ginbey at pick nine. West Coast was originally the custodian of pick 2 but decided to split it in favour of two first-round selections, Ginbey and Elijah Hewett (#14), as part of the deal that sent Rioli to Port Adelaide.
A year later, the Eagles claimed the wooden spoon and turned pick one into Harley Reid. The rebuild was in full swing.
A generational talent, West Coast fielded plenty of offers from opposition clubs wanting to secure Reid’s services. While some factions within the club are understood to have seriously considered trading out the pick that guaranteed access to Reid, the recruiters held firm.
The crucial ingredient of any rebuild is top-end talent. And given the significance of West Coast’s list woes, the Eagles have shown a willingness to split selections, believing that two or three players are better than one.
West Coast did it back in 2022 in pursuit of local lads Ginbey and Hewett. And the Eagles were forced to do it last year with pick three.
West Coast had hoped to secure pick 14 from Hawthorn in exchange for wantaway defender Tom Barrass. The plan was then to on-trade that selection to Richmond for Liam Baker, maintaining possession of pick three.
Instead, the Hawks got frustrated with West Coast and traded pick 14 to Carlton. It forced the Eagles to slide from pick three to pick 12, also gaining Baker and Blues forward Matt Owies in a three-way deal.
In an alternate universe, the Eagles could’ve landed Baker and Jagga Smith. They could’ve also drafted Harry Sheezel if they’d had held onto pick two in 2022.
In this universe, West Coast has Ginbey, Hewett, Reid, Bo Allan, Baker and Owies.
It’s a net result of more players, most of whom are members of the Eagles’ best 22. But will the benefit of hindsight come back to bite West Coast for passing on top-five talent?
“They need to go and get more players in the door rather than just one superstar,” Schofield said. “I think that’s probably going to continue.
“I don’t think it’s speaking out of school to say there’s not enough good players on the list.”
Since winning the premiership in 2018, West Coast has added 51 new players to its list, not including the club’s two most recent mid-season draft picks Tom McCarthy and Jacob Newton.
Of those players, 30 of them are still currently at the club, meaning 68 per cent of West Coast’s list consists of players who have arrived at the Eagles in the past seven years.
Focusing on young talent, West Coast has drafted 38 players since 2018. Currently, 23 of them remain on the list.
While it was a compromised draft due to the impact of COVID-19 on underage football, the Eagles’ 2020 haul is a complete wipe-out, with none of Luke Edwards (Pick 52, retired due to concussion), Isiah Winder (pick 57, delisted) or Zane Trew (Rookie draft pick 12, delisted) still at the club.
THE HARLEY AND OSCAR CONUNDRUM
West Coast faces a history-defining off-season with the futures of its two young stars a significant talking point.
Oscar Allen is out of contract at the end of the season while the club’s beacon of hope Reid’s deal runs out at the end of next year.
The Eagles have put a variety of offers in front of Reid that will make him one of the richest men in footy. An ongoing knee issue means West Coast is only prepared to offer Allen a medium-term contract as he mulls interest from Brisbane and Hawthorn.
Chief executive Don Pyke recently said the club remain in constant dialogue with the pair.
“They’re moving forward but there’s no timeline on those,” Pyke told in-house podcast Coast to Coast. “We’re in conversations with both of them and their managers at the moment.”
But given that a free agency compensation pick for co-captain Allen could net the Eagles another top-five selection, let alone the offers that will be put on the table for Reid, some have urged West Coast to let both walk.
It would be a Richmond-style rebuild on the run.
Schofield said what happens with the two – this year and next – hinges on their level of commitment to the club.
“I think you want players on your list that want to be there,” he said. “If Harley and or Oscar think there’s greener pastures elsewhere and their careers and or contracts will be better at another club, I think you need to work with them to get better players on the list.
“I don’t know where either of those guys sit but if there’s any sort of wavering discrepancy in their commitment to the footy club, you move them on. It’s an easy decision.”
WHERE ARE THE LIST GAPS?
With a list like West Coast’s, it’s easier and less time-consuming to identify the few strengths given the extent of its weaknesses.
“The biggest glaring hole in West Coast’s list is those mid-tier players,” Schofield said. “They’ve identified that and that’s why they’re splitting picks trying to fill that hole.”
West Coast is ranked 17th this season for experience with an average of 59.6 games. The Eagles are also 17th for age with an average of 23.8 years old.
Time is the only cure for that. But the Eagles would also love some more players to start playing to their potential.
Herald Sun columnist and Collingwood star Mick McGuane revealed last week he doesn’t believe a single Eagle is a certified A-Grader.
Waterman would’ve come close if not for a season-ending shoulder injury. Yeo has been in the past but is yet to open his campaign due to an ongoing ankle/knee injury. And McGovern would’ve been an A-grade intercepting defender this season if he hadn’t been struck down by a potentially career-ending concussion.
Together, they’re arguably West Coast’s three most important players. And there’s no guarantee we see any of them again this year.
If McGovern is forced into retirement, it will compound West Coast’s lack of key defensive depth following Barrass’ departure. Sandy Brock and Harry Edwards are filling the void but both have been monstered by opposition key forwards this season and Rhett Bazzo has endured a wretched run with injury.
The Eagles also need a long-term solution in the ruck. Matt Flynn has taken some good steps this year but is still vulnerable against the AFL’s best. Bailey Williams has been batting above his average for years now and is a jumping ruck/forward, not a wrestling ruck.
THE NEXT KEY CONTRACT MOVES
Despite some fleeting interest from Fremantle during last year’s trade period, Kelly looks set to finish his career at West Coast after signing a two-year contract extension.
The Eagles re-signed veteran defender McGovern earlier this season on a one-year deal but now his future is in doubt as he awaits a meeting with the AFL’s concussion panel.
West Coast has invested in its youth, re-signing exciting utility Tyrell Dewar and mid-season draft success story Jack Hutchinson for a further three years.
But the Eagles list management team needs to get busy.
A further 14 players are due to come out of contract at the end of the year, headlined by co-captain Allen. And 18 players are out of contract next year in 2026.
With 32 players hoping to secure a new deal, 69.6 per cent of West Coast’s list is due to come out of contract in the next two years. It’s an opportunity to keep the faith or conduct a further overhaul, with McQualter and second-year list manager Matt Clarke set to have a significant say on the direction of the list.
No.1 mid-season draft pick McCarthy is a prime example. While he was widely considered the best player in the pool, the dashing half-back also suits McQualter’s style.
Casting an eye to the end of this season, the most intriguing contract call is former first-round pick Campbell Chesser.
The pacy wingman is due to return to the football field this weekend after a lengthy lay-off due to an ankle injury. He’s only played 18 games since arriving at the Eagles and has struggled with the jump up to AFL level.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see premiership hero Sheed retire after suffering a season-ending ACL injury in February. Veteran forward Jamie Cripps is believed to be hopeful of playing on for one more season despite a recent knee injury putting his resurgence on hold.
Beyond that, there’s no one demanding a contract extension come the end of the season.
Reid is obviously the priority of the 2026 contract crop while Liam Ryan has flirted with finishing his career at another club.
The Eagles will also need to secure signatures for a talented crop of youngsters including Hewett, Jack Williams, Jobe Shanahan, Tom Gross and Clay Hall.
WHO COULD COME IN?
The knock on West Coast is that it hasn’t been able to reel in a big fish in recent years due to its lack of competitiveness.
Kelly back in 2019 was the last real A-Grader the Eagles have been able to lure to Lathlain.
The Eagles have had some nice free agency wins with Jack Graham (Richmond), Jayden Hunt (Melbourne) and Flynn (GWS). But the players West Coast has traded in have largely been depth players or out of favour WA products returning home, barring Baker.
The Eagles were right up to their necks in the chase for Chad Warner until he re-signed with Sydney for a further two years.
As much as Warner’s arrival would’ve increased the chances of Harley Reid re-signing, it’s for West Coast’s own good. Now, Warner will be available as a free agent in 2027, removing the need for the Eagles to sell their soul at the trade table.
It leaves the Eagles to tread a delicate path back to contention. West Coast desperately needs more young talent but the club also has a war chest and a list of WA targets genuinely weighing up a return home.
“It’s always a balancing act,” Schofield said. “They shouldn’t be overreaching to go and get a superstar.
“Leadership is a big priority. I wouldn’t necessarily be targeting talent over attitude. You want to build a strong core of young players.”
Kysaiah Pickett has been heavily linked to Fremantle but has previously flirted with the idea of joining West Coast.
The Eagles are interested in Collingwood ruck Darcy Cameron but would need to trade for him if they want him in blue and gold next year.
Brandon Starcevich is a free agent and is yet to re-sign with Brisbane. West Coast has also previously pursued Deven Robertson, the nephew of club great Darren Glass.
The Eagles need to sell a compelling pitch of the future, starting with tangible improvement in the back half of the season.
The recruitment of Graham, Baker and Owies is a sign that West Coast is heading in the right direction. The relatively inexpensive trio have added much-needed experience and professionalism and if they can help the Eagles bag a few more wins and re-sign Reid, it’ll be worth it.
Hawthorn is the model, adding Jack Ginnivan, Mabior Chol, Massimo D’Ambrosio and Jack Gunston in the 2023 trade period. While they weren’t A-Graders, they helped the Hawks charge into finals again and now, Hawthorn is a destination club.
Archer Reid beats Sam Taylor cold in a one-on-one marking contest 👀 pic.twitter.com/HxXYBwacgp
— BRZY (@outbreezyWC) April 6, 2025
WHO IS THE FUTURE?
The good news for West Coast is that it’s starting to see some green shoots in its 25 and younger contingent.
They’re still a while away from playing consistent senior football but evidence suggest the Eagles have nailed their 2024 draft haul.
Illness slowed Allan’s start to the season and a suspension on debut set him back again but the Peel product has shown signs of strong defensive acumen and attack on the footy in the WAFL.
Jobe Shanahan is yet to debut but has played at both ends for the Eagles’ reserves and should get an opportunity in the back half of the year due to Jake Waterman’s season-ending shoulder injury.
Gross won’t reflect fondly on being run down late against Richmond but that willingness to take the game on is the reason he’s played six games so far. Hamish Davis has been composed when he’s played senior football and Lucca Grego has been tearing up the state league.
A year removed, 2023 addition Archer Reid made his debut in round one this season and has proven himself to be a competitive tall who refuses to lose a contest. His goal kicking could use a bit of work but whenever an Eagles player was asked during pre-season who was impressing, Reid was the answer.
Hall and Harvey Johnston have been stuck behind a few but they haven’t looked out of place at senior level.
“I really like Elijah Hewett,” Schofield said. “I think he has serious potential.
“Brady Hough is the sort of player you can build a club around. Reuben Ginbey has shown enough to suggest he’s a backman, not a midfielder. Harley Reid is a superstar. And I’ve always liked Jack Williams and think he’s capable of developing into an A-grade talent and so can Archer Reid.
“That group is good enough to build a side around. It’s similar to the group I came through with that contained Luke Shuey, Nic Naitanui, Scott Selwood, Shannon Hurn and Matt Priddis. It was a mixture of high-end talent and good people.”
If West Coast can add more top-end talent in this upcoming draft, think Willem Duursma or Cooper Duff-Tytler, they’ll have a group of talented players in their late teens to early 20s ready to form the nucleus of the club’s next premiership side.
It might not happen quickly but it will happen eventually. If the Eagles finish the season last on the ladder, they’ll hold picks 1, 16, 19 34 and 52. And if Allen exercises his rights as a free agent, West Coast will have two picks in the top five.
Paired with the continued rise of Hough (22), Hewett (20) and Ginbey (20), the kids might just be all right.
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