West Coast 2024 AFL season preview: Another long year ahead as West Coast’s rebuild continues

Next year looms as another developmental campaign, bolstered by the arrival of No. 1 draft pick Harley Reid.

WEST COAST

Coach: Adam Simpson

Captains: Liam Duggan and Oscar Allen

The Eagles are coming from a long way back. Many football observers will be tipping them to finish bottom as they continue their rebuild and the patience of Simpson, let alone supporters, will again be tested.

The biggest positive for West Coast is the arrival of highly-touted midfielder Reid.

After plenty of talk about trading away the No. 1 pick, the Eagles kept it and took a young gun who should have a significant influence from the outset.

West Coast will also take solace from some of its late-season results, including two wins from round 20.

WHAT HAPPENED IN 2023?

West Coast collected a second consecutive wooden spoon after a miserable season that yielded just one win from the first 19 rounds. The lows included a 16-game losing streak, headlined by a 171-point drubbing by Sydney at the SCG in round 15, when the Swans scored a whopping 205 points, and a Western Derby shellacking in the third-last round. In all, the Eagles suffered four losses by at least 100 points. Injuries hurt West Coast’s chances of being competitive. Nic Naitanui did not play a game, Liam Ryan featured in only three, while Jeremy McGovern (nine), Luke Shuey (10), Elliot Yeo (10) and Jamie Cripps (12) missed much of the year. Their absences meant plenty of youngsters were exposed at AFL level, many before they were ready. Couple that with veterans such as Andrew Gaff being well down on form and it was easy to see why the Eagles finished how they did. Throughout the campaign Simpson and the club were under immense fan and media scrutiny. While West Coast backed Simpson in, long-time chief executive Trevor Nisbett resigned. The club did not look for any quick fixes during the off-season, targeting a ruckman (Matt Flynn from GWS) and small forward (Tyler Brockman, Hawthorn) during the trade period, then adding young gun Reid at pick 1 in the draft. List manager and long-serving recruiter Rohan O’Brien also stepped down after the draft.

WHERE DO THEY FINISH IN 2024?

It will be a surprise if West Coast is not in the bottom four again next year. Although there are still some premiership players remaining on the list from the club’s 2018 triumph, many are past their best or are struggling to get on the park. The home-ground advantage the Eagles once had has no longer a factor for opposition teams travelling to Perth in recent seasons, either. The Eagles are clearly in rebuild mode and behind other teams who have been down the bottom in recent years. Another wooden spoon or finishing second-last are the most likely outcomes.

BIGGEST IMPROVER IN 2024?

Amid the disastrous on-field moments of last season, there were some shining lights, including the potential of Reuben Ginbey. The Eagles chose the West Australian at pick 9 in the 2022 national draft and he featured in 17 of 23 games on debut. At 191cm and 83kg, Ginbey did not look out of place against more seasoned, big-bodied opponents, either in defence or in the middle. With another summer under his belt and retirements presenting more opportunities, Ginbey should take a big step in 2024. He has the power and size to become a young gun.

X-FACTOR

Liam Ryan played in the Eagles’ 2018 flag and was an All-Australian in 2020 — a season in which he booted 26 goals from 18 games. Last year he featured in only three matches due to a hamstring injury stemming from a marking contest in April. It is safe to say that West Coast missed his hard running and craftiness. At his best, Ryan is one of the competition’s most dangerous forwards and his workrate up the ground is very good. If he can play 20-plus games in 2024, it will go some way to making the Eagles more competitive.

COACH STATUS

West Coast has stood by Simpson despite the club’s on-field struggles, backing him to lead its rebuild. The 2018 Eagles premiership coach is contracted until the end of 2025 and looks set for another tough campaign next season. Winning the flag certainly helps buy Simpson time. But will he see out his contract if the losses keep piling up? It will be interesting to see.

WHO IS IN LAST YEAR OF CONTRACT?

Alex Witherden, Andrew Gaff, Bailey Williams, Coby Burgiel, Elliot Yeo, Harry Barnett, Harry Edwards, Jack Williams, Jai Culley, Jamaine Jones, Jordyn Baker, Josh Rotham, Liam Duggan, Liam Ryan, Luke Edwards, Ryan Maric, Tyrell Dewar, Zane Trew

OUTS FOR 2024

Luke Shuey (retired), Nic Naitanui (retired), Shannon Hurn (retired), Connor West (delisted), Greg Clark (delisted), Isiah Winder (delisted), Luke Foley (delisted), Sam Petrevski-Seton (delisted), Xavier O’Neill (delisted)

INS FOR 2024

Tyler Brockman (trade, Hawthorn), Matt Flynn (free agent, Greater Western Sydney), Harley Reid (No. 1 draft pick), Archer Reid (No. 30 draft pick), Clay Hall (No. 38 draft pick), Harvey Johnston (No. 49 draft pick), Coen Livingstone (category B rookie), Loch Rawlinson (rookie draft)