Giant killing Eagles

Brisbane were the AFL’s No.1 side during 2001-02-03, but West still enjoyed their moments against the three-time premiers. In round five, 2002  at Subiaco Oval they ended the Lions’ 20-game winning streak and in round 12, 2003 they gave them a 69-point hiding at the Gabba, which was the Lions’ biggest loss of their golden era.

The visitors won each quarter, led by 48 points at half-time and prevailed 24.16 (160) to 13.13 (91) despite eight goals from Gabba favorite Alastair Lynch.

Ben Cousins had 35 possessions and one goal for three Brownlow Medal votes while Chris Judd had 17 possessions and a career-best five goals for two votes.

Note: Four players have kicked 10 or more goals in a game against the Eagles. St.Kilda’s Tony Lockett and Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt head the list at 12, followed by Essendon’s Paul Salmon at 11 and Essendon’s Matthew Lloyd at 10.

An early pointer

Ashley Hansen is remembered fondly for kicking two goals in the first quarter of the 2006 grand final, which the Eagles won by a point. But the idea of Hansen kicking goals wasn’t exactly a revelation.

In his second game, in round 12, 2004 against Adelaide at Subiaco, Hansen kicked an equal career-best four goals, including three goals in the final quarter, to help set up a 32-point win. 

100 for Staker

Brent Staker posted his 100^th game for the Eagles in a 22-point loss to Essendon at Docklands in round 12, 2008 but it wasn’t the first time that year Staker found himself in the spotlight.

Eight weeks earlier, in one of the most infamous moments in AFL history, Staker was knocked out by Sydney’s Barry Hall in an incident which earned the Swans full forward a seven-match suspension.

Staker missed only one game with concussion and had 11 possessions and kicked a goal in his 100^th.

Nic or Jack?

The big talking point in AFL circles at the end of 2008 was the upcoming National Draft. Who would go first? Jack Watts from the Sandringham Dragons or Nic Naitanui from Swan Districts?

West Coast had a massive vested interest in the debate but no control. They had second pick in the draft behind Melbourne.

Watts had won the Larke Medal as the best player at the national Under 18 championships despite giving his rivals a 12-month start and was named at full forward in the all-Australian team.

It was a team which had Naitanui in the ruck, plus a host of future AFL stars.

Without knowledge of anything that would unfold over the next 11 years Melbourne took Watts, leaving the Eagles to welcome Naitanui to the ‘nest’.

Watts made a well-publicised debut in round 11, 2009 in the Queen’s Birthday clash with Collingwood. There was a massive hype around the #1 pick as the Demons used the blonde forward as a promotional tool to create a sense of hope for long-suffering fans, but popular opinion was that he was not ready for League football.

He had eight disposals in his first game and after three games was dropped.

Naitanui debuted one week after Watts in round 12, 2009. He had 11 possessions, seven hit-outs and a team-high two goal assists in a 15-point loss to Richmond at Docklands.

In his second game the following week Naitanui had eight possessions, 14 hit-outs and kicked three goals to pick up a Brownlow Medal vote. He was up and going.

Nineteen members of the 2008 all-Australian under 18 side that included Watts and Naitanui have gone on to play AFL football. Listed with their draft number and in career game order they were pick #11 Steele Sidebottom (235), #9 Jack Ziebell (210), #7 Daniel Rich (207), #23 David Zaharakis (207), #3 Stephen Hill (206), #40 Mitch Robinson (191), rookie pick #19 Matt deBoer (188) and #5 Michael Hurley (179).

Watts, now with 174 games behind him, is next on the list level with Tom Scully, a fellow 17-year-old in 2008 who was drafted at pick #1 the following year.

Then comes Naitanui (167 games) ahead of #4 Hamish Hartlett (164), #24 Nick Suban (156), #53 Michael Walters (151), #8 Ty Vickery (125), rookie pick #48 Clancee Pearce (100), #28 Shaun McKernan (78), #50 Jordan Lisle (23) and #12 Lewis Johnston (10).

It was the same draft which yielded #6 Chris Yarran (119 games) and #10 Phil Davis (167) in the top 10, and later #18 Luke Shuey (202) and #25 Jack Redden (211).

A double ton

John Worsfold played 209 games for West Coast, and in round 12, 2010 he celebrated another double-century for the club … his 200^th game as coach.

It was against Richmond at the MCG but sadly the Tigers’ Jack Riewoldt spoilt the party. He kicked 10 goals, including four in the first quarter and the last three to set up a 49-point win for his side.

Interestingly, in the opposition coach’s box in his 12^th game in charge was Damien Hardwick. The win was just his second after he’d lost his first nine games as coach.

Worsfold was the second person to coach West Coast 200 times behind Mick Malthouse (243) and just the 13^th person in AFL history to reach the 200/200 mark. Since then Paul Roos became the 14^th later in 2010, Hardwick the 15^th in 2018 and Chris Scott the 16^th in 2019.

And the first 12? In chronological order they were Norm Smith, Phonse Kyne, Ron Barassi, David Parkin, Kevin Sheedy, Robert Walls, Leigh Matthews, Gary Ayres, Rodney Eade, Terry Wallace, Mark Williams and Mark Thompson. 

Another Brennan moment

Jacob Brennan, son of acclaimed Michael Brennan, had a special round 12 moment himself 18 years after his father played his 150^th game for West Coast.

It was against Carlton at Subiaco when in just his sixth game Brennan Jnr kicked the match-winning goal. Or at least the clincher.

The Eagles had trailed by three points at three-quarter time before Jack Darling kicked two quick goals to put the home side back in front. Dean Cox stretched the lead to 17 and, with still 13 minutes to play, Brennan snuck forward from his customary spot across half back to make it 23 and safe.

The Eagles eventually won by 10, and Brennan, whose AFL career finished at 28 games, had the satisfaction in knowing his second and last AFL goal was an important one.

Scott Selwood had 33 possessions to pick up three Brownlow votes and Nic Naitanui a career-best 25 possessions and 31 hit-outs for two votes.

Another mid-season retirement

West Coast lost another champion to mid-season retirement at round 12, 2014. This time it was Darren Glass who finally conceded defeat to recurring injury problems. And like Dean Kemp 13 years earlier he finished with a loss.

The 270-game full-back, 2006 premiership star, four-time all-Australian and three-time club champion, finished in a 44-point loss to Hawthorn at York Park in Launceston.

The Hawks’ Jarryd Roughead, a long-time combatant, spoiled the occasion with eight goals in what was also the 100^th game for Will Schofield, who had made his debut alongside Glass in 2008.

Another gate-crasher

There was another case of a familiar personality spoiling a milestone occasion in round 12, 2016 when the Eagles hosted Adelaide at Subiaco. They suffered a 29-point loss in what was Chris Masten’s 150^th and life membership game.

The culprit this time was none other than Don Pyke, a dual Eagles premiership player who was in his first season as coach of the Crows and coached against his old club for the first time.

It was a bad loss. Or a good win for Pyke.

West Coast had led by as many as 26 points midway through the third quarter and were 12 up at three-quarter time before a scoreless final term. The Crows banged on six goals and won 15.15 (105) to 11.10 (76) in what was also Xavier Ellis’ last game.