WAFL 2022 Preview – West Coast EaglesWednesday, April 6, 2022 - 7:42 AM - by Chris Pike

COVID has meant the past two years have been anything ideal for the West Coast Eagles WAFL team, but they'll be hoping for a better run at it in 2022 and if things do go better for them, there's no reason they can't expect a strongly competitive season.

West Coast played finals in the WAFL back in 2019 and even beat West Perth in the elimination final before losing narrowly to Claremont in the first semi-final, so they were only a kick away really from reaching the preliminary final.

That highlights how competitive they can be in the WAFL when things are on an even keel, but once COVID hit in 2020 things became challenging. 

They weren’t able to take part in the 2020 season and then in 2021 they were only able to win four games to finish with the wooden spoon even though their competitiveness did improve the longer the season went on.

There are some changes at the Eagles entering this WAFL season too with former East Fremantle coach Rob Wiley taking over the helm. 

The WA and Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, and will be a good fit to get the balance right between development and trying to win games of football.

There are some changes on the personnel front with West Coast bring in the likes of Jed Kemp, John Levien, Darby McCarthy, Josh Burke, Jarrod Pickett, Josh Browne, Mitch Henderson and Logan Young to provide some depth to the AFL-listed players.

They have lost some of their key players from last year, though, including fairest and best winner Kieran Hug, captain and on-baller Hamish Brayshaw along with Jordan Busher, Michael Humble and Mitch Curnow.

However, the reality is their fate will largely be determined by which West Coast-listed AFL players they have available, how many and what sort of impact they can have on the WAFL when they are in the team.

No matter, it should be a fascinating ride to follow their progress throughout 2022.

COACH – Rob Wiley (First season)
CAPTAIN – TBC
FAIREST AND BEST 2021 – Kieran Hug

LOOKBACK ON 2021

The West Coast Eagles WAFL team ended up with the wooden spoon in 2021 but once they settled into the season they were much more competitive than that suggested.

In the end, the Eagles did only finish in that bottom place courtesy of percentage behind Perth finishing with a 4-14 record. That obviously isn’t what they were hoping for, but after losing the opening eight matches of 2021 that puts into perspective their improvement as the year went on.

There were some horror losses in that start to the season including by 125 points to East Fremantle, but once the Eagles got some stronger personnel available and built some chemistry, they played well starting with a stunning upset of minor premiers Subiaco.

That was their first win of the season before backing up beating East Fremantle by 51 points, and making it four wins from six games with wins against East Perth and Perth also.

They might not have quite won another game over the past month but the improved form was on the back of a blend of West Coast-listed players fighting for their lives and WAFL-listed players finding their feet at the level.

Hamish Brayshaw, Brayden Ainsworth, Xavier O'Neill and Ben Johnson all had good seasons as ball winners for the Eagles WAFL team while it was a couple of former Perth players, Kieran Hug and Lennon Marlin who were among their standout performers.

Hug would go on to be named the club's fairest and best for the season while it was son of a legend Zane Sumich who benefited from his move from South Fremantle to show his potential as a defender too.

Cooper Nitschke and Hug ended up as their leading goalkickers with just 16 for the season and their biggest problem was just having a consistent line-up throughout the season, but all in all there was plenty to take out of their second half.

INS AND OUTS

Incoming – Jed Kemp, John Levien, Darby McCarthy, Josh Burke, Jarrod Pickett, Josh Browne, Mitch Henderson, Logan Young

Outgoing – Hamish Brayshaw, Jordan Busher, Kieran Hug, Michael Humble, Mitch Curnow

FEATURE FIXTURE

First up for the Eagles in Round 1 on Easter Saturday is a clash with Perth at Mineral Resources Park. Playing at Lathlain is virtually a home game for West Coast and this presents a chance for them to get off to an ideal start with coach Rob Wiley obviously back in familiar territory as well. They'll take on former teammate Brayden Ainsworth in the midfield as well, but if the Eagles can get off to a good start to open the season then their chance of avoiding consecutive wooden spoons, and even being back in the finals hunt will be enhanced.

PREDICTION

Making a prediction for the Eagles' WAFL team could be the most challenging of all 10 teams in the competition for 2022. If the worst occurs and the West Coast AFL-listed players available are suddenly decimated, they could struggle to be competitive. However, with a healthy Eagles list and a strong group available to play in the WAFL, this team could be good enough to push for a finals spot again. Only time well.