During the off-season between the disastrous 2010 campaign, when West Coast finished at the foot of the premiership table for the first time and the 2011 season, the club went through an exhaustive review.

It was not a witch hunt, but a season with such a poor return commanded a tough internal examination for the failure.

The first step was to modify the pre-season training program. Senior players would train remotely, away from the rest of the squad. They would do the work they needed, but it was away from the club.

The rationale for that move was two-fold; it would keep the senior players fresh and would have the side effect of forcing mid-range players to lead the young group, to have a stronger voice on the track.

When the ultimate effect of all that was a remarkable ascent up the ladder, it would have to be viewed as a stroke of genius. West Coast became only the fifth club in VFL/AFL history to climb off the bottom rung to finish in the top four.

The club won 17 games and was, almost inexplicably, back in the premiership window after its worst season ever. It was a mind-boggling form reversal. Not even the most parochial of Eagles fans could have predicted the reversal.

The modified approach to training kept the senior players fresh and the upshot was that players like Darren Glass, Daniel Kerr, Dean Cox, Matt Priddis, Luke Shuey, Adam Selwood and others were constants in the team.

And for the first time in three years the club was back playing finals.

The first challenge was the first qualifying final against minor premier Collingwood at the MCG.

It was an engrossing affair.

The Eagles started with great enthusiasm. The heat was on from the outset and rather than yield to the ferocity of its opponent, West Coast absorbed everything Collingwood could throw at them...and then some.

In the early going a young bloke destined for greatness rose above all others, in every sense. Nic Naitanui had a fair start at a tick over 200cm, but as one of the youngest players on the ground, he relished the environment. It was if the whole experience energised him and he dominated the stoppages, got the ball to advantage and set West Coast on their way.

The Eagles kicked the first couple of goals until Collingwood pulled one back against the run of play.

It was tough and uncompromising and throughout the afternoon, the intensity wavered for only a few minutes. It was in that time that the seasoned Magpies struck.

They kicked six goals – or half their match tally – in that period and turned an eight-point quarter-time deficit into a 13-point half-time lead. It proved a decisive period in the game, on the way to a 20-point win.

From there, it was back to Perth and Paterson’s Stadium to host Carlton in the first semi-final.

It proved to be an epic contest.

The Eagles held sway for most of the game, but in tight cut-throat finals there is always a sense of unease until the final siren. And on this night, with Carlton surging late, that final siren took…forever.

The Blues edged to within two points at the 32.29 minute mark when Andrew Walker kicked accurately from a set shot at half-forward. For another three agonising minutes it dragged out, with the footy for the most part in the Carlton attacking half.

It was nerve tingling stuff before the Eagles finally won the ball away from the congestion, found some space and worked it forward. They kicked a behind and won by three points.

That ensured a preliminary final show-down with Geelong, a team the Eagles had beaten at home late year, at the MCG.

And the seasoned Cats were simply too good. A finals-hardened outfit, they carried too much experience and class when it counted, stamped their authority on the contest early and ended the Eagles season with an emphatic 48-point win.

Individually and collectively West Coast knew this match would be a step up from anything it faced at any point during its season of renaissance. They were acutely aware that the tempo would rise again from the frenetic, last-man-standing, battle of the previous week against Carlton.

But knowing what to expect – and dealing with it – are two separate issues. Geelong boasted – on average – an advantage of 60 games and three years of experience. It proved a concession too large and West Coast simply could not get their hands on the footy in the first quarter.

After the disappointment of that loss subsided, the club was able to reflect on a good year that had seen the club elevate itself back into the top bracket. The platform had again been laid for another genuine assault on that elusive fourth premiership.

Highlights had been the performances of some of the younger players, particularly first-year tyros.

Andrew Gaff and Jack Darling. Both players were outstanding in their debut season and added youthful exuberance which was infectious.

The club’s 25^th year was also one which celebrated a proud history, culminating with the launch of the Hall of Fame on the weekend of round 20 when the club played Richmond – the first club it encountered in round one, 1987.

After a stringent selection process Chris Lewis, Dean Kemp, Peter Matera, John Worsfold, Guy McKenna, Glen Jakovich, Mick Malthouse and Bill Sutherland were the inaugural inductees.

At the Club Champion Awards Darren Glass’s inspirational leadership was rewarded with his third gong, on a countback from Matt Priddis. Remarkably ruckman Dean Cox was just one vote further back in the closest count in club history. It was testimony to the great season each enjoyed, while Glass and Cox were also recognised with all-Australian selection.