From 1988 to 2025: West Coast’s inaugural AFL finals team’s advice for history-making AFLW Eagles

The Eagles’ inaugural finals side trained at Ikon Park ahead of its first decider in 1988. 37 years on, West Coast’s AFLW side will make its post-season debut there – and there are some remarkable similarities between the two.

It’s only fitting that West Coast will make its AFLW finals debut at Ikon Park, given it’s where the club’s inaugural men’s finals side prepared to make history.

Back in 1988, the Eagles’ second season in the VFL, West Coast finished fourth to lock in its maiden finals appearance.

The team arrived in Victoria at midnight ahead of its elimination final against Melbourne, and after checking into their hotel on Royal Parade, the Eagles were taken across the road by legendary coach John Todd.

“One of Toddy’s regular regimes is that when we arrived, we used to have to go and train with no footballs in the park at midnight in the dark,” Eagles premiership star Karl Langdon said.

West Coast premiership player Karl Langdon said the Eagles would often train at midnight on interstate trips.

“People must’ve thought we were crazy. I was really good on my right with no football after midnight.”

On Saturday afternoon at the very same spot, West Coast’s AFLW side will make history when it clashes with Carlton.

The Eagles’ finals chances looked dead in the water after a 20-point loss to the Blues on Friday night. But Essendon’s upset win over Sydney the following day was enough for West Coast to cling to its top-eight spot.

And despite being separated by 37 years, there are some remarkable similarities between the two history-making outfits.

The 1988 Eagles side had an average age of 24 years seven months, a total experience of 877 AFL games and 18 finals debutants.

The average age of West Coast’s round 12 side against the Blues was 23 years, and they combined for 780 games of experience.

Assuming Jess Rentsch is the only addition to West Coast’s line-up on Saturday after serving her one-match suspension, the Eagles AFLW side will field 18 finals debutants.

Only Roxy Roux (4 games), Kellie Gibson (2) and Dana Hooker (1) have played finals previously.

Dana Hooker was chaired off after the loss to Carlton in what – she thought – was her last game. Picture: James Worsfold/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

Ross Glendinning (12) and Dean Turner (4) had previously tasted finals football when West Coast arrived at Waverly in 1988.

Langdon is however, of the opinion that finals experience is overrated.

“It doesn’t matter how many finals debutants you’ve got,” he said.

“Look at what Brisbane has just done and the young players they’ve introduced to their team.

“It didn’t matter how old I was, I used to play every game as if it were my last. When you had a chance to make your moments count, you had to take it.

“If you can have an impact in finals, you can make a name for yourself.

“This is the girls’ first chance to play finals, but the reality is there are some girls who might never play finals again.”

West Coast lost its maiden final to Melbourne by two points in a thriller.

After leading by 22 points at half-time, Garry Lyon gave the Demons the lead with less than a minute to play in the last.

West Coast had one last roll of the dice through late inclusion Murray Wrensted on the run from 50m, but his kick sailed left.

Inaugural Eagle Steve Malaxos, one of West Coast’s best on the day with 33 disposals and a goal, said finals all came down to moments.

“The final goal they kicked, I went for a smother,” he said.

“Whenever I see the vision, I think ‘Why didn’t I get a hand on that ball?’ We still had a bit of time, but it was disappointing.

“I remember being extremely excited when I knew we were going to be playing in the finals. It was something I really wanted us to do and obviously we missed out in our first season.

“There’s a lot of excitement because it’s a bigger stage, but you just have to drill down on your preparation.”

Despite going down on debut, West Coast went on to play finals in 25 of the next 34 seasons.

And if history serves as a powerful guide to the future, Daisy Pearce’s first finals campaign in just her second season might be the start of sustained success.

“It’s the start of something that can go stronger for longer,” he said.

“The core of that team is still very young. What Daisy has been able to do in such a short period of time is commendable.

“They’ve improved an unbelievable amount.

“Being picked in the club’s very first final is one thing. But being a part of the first win in a final is another step. How far can they go? Their destiny is in their own hands.”

And West Coast’s inaugural AFL finals team will be riding every kick, mark and tackle with them.

“The club hasn’t had a lot of good news in the last few years,” Malaxos said. “It’s great evidence of progression.

Added Langdon: “There’s a chance for them to take home what you play for.”

Originally published as From 1988 to 2025: West Coast’s inaugural AFL finals team’s advice for history-making AFLW Eagles