The innocence of youth might have quelled the pain when Mark LeCras was dropped after a qualifying final loss to Sydney in 2006.
A week after kicking five goals against Richmond in the last game of the regular season LeCras had a quiet game against the Swans and was a casualty at the selection table.
Three weeks later the Eagles had their third premiership and LeCras was on the other side of the fence willing his teammates across the line in an epic victory. It would have been bittersweet for the emerging star, just two seasons and six games into what would become a stellar career.
LeCras was excited for his teammates, but disappointed at being on the periphery rather than front and centre, experiencing football’s ultimate feeling.
He likely balanced his emotional state by consoling himself with the thought his time would come. That his career was in its infancy and this squad was something special.
After all the Eagles boasted the likes of Ben Cousins, Chris Judd, Daniel Kerr and Andrew Embley in the midfield. Dean Cox was the best big man in the game, Darren Glass was a supreme defender. The premiership window remained wide open.
He had no idea that he would need to wait 12 years to experience the magic of premiership glory on the MCG. That his time would come 4382 days later – in his 219th and final game.
It would be in another classic one-kick Grand Final triumph over Collingwood and this time LeCras was in the middle of the action. One of the team’s veterans whose experience was such a valuable factor. No one cherished victory more.
He immediately jumped into the arms of Josh Kennedy, the man with whom he had wreaked havoc inside the forward arc for more than a decade. They embraced in a bear hug; a moment of sheer exaltation.
LeCras, in his own mind, knew that was his final moment on football’s biggest stage. He had strived so long, toiled so hard. Finally, he felt first-hand the sensation of reaching an elusive destination.
The elite attributes of the West Coast Eagles sharp-shooter were clearly evident during a distinguished career.
They were also supported statistically. He sits fourth on the all-time club goal-kicking table with 441 majors at an average of just over two per game. Only key forwards Kennedy (712), Peter Sumich (514) and Jack Darling (484) rank above him.
But other traits that were not so obvious were his courage and commitment to the cause. The livewire forward best exemplified his inner strength in 2013 when he broke several ribs in the round 20 game against Essendon but battled on and kicked five goals in a match winning performance at Docklands Stadium.
So severe was the injury that he did not play again that season.
That was not the first time LeCras tormented the Bombers at the venue, kicking 12 in a career-best performance in round 16, 2010. That haul remains a record for an individual at the stadium and was one of the rare highlights of a season when the Eagles finished at the foot of the table.
That golden dozen was central to LeCras finishing third in the Coleman Medal behind power forwards Jack Riewoldt and Barry Hall.
In the same year he won the Club Champion Award and was the leading goal-kicker in both the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
LeCras added another glorious achievement through his induction into the West Coast Eagles Hall of Fame.
MARK LECRAS
2005-2018
Debut: Round 10, 2005 v Port Adelaide
Games: 219
Achievements:
Premiership player 2018
Club Champion 2010
Leading goal-kicker 2009, 2010
All-Australian 2010
