I’m proud to say I’ve been a West Coast Eagles guernsey for the past 28 years now.
We’ve had some ups and downs, but what do you expect after 136 wins, two draws and 142 losses?
It’s hard to look back on my past, because I’m one of the few guernseys to have missed almost all of the most significant moments in club history, including our first game back in 1987 and each of our premiership victories.
Having said that, I did manage to play in a number of finals matches in those early days, and even though the same can’t be said of recent times, my initial success as a jumper has just made me even hungrier for more!
I started my career with the ever-dependable Phil Scott, a ruckman with a heart of gold.
During our four years together, we won the best clubman award twice and, perhaps even more significantly, wrote a letter to our teammates on the eve of the 1992 grand final which lifted their spirits enough to inspire a victory.
After Phil retired, I switched alliances to a young Mitch White who had worn first no.47 and then no.31 in his first two seasons at the Eagles.
When Mitch slipped me over his head for the first time in 1993, I think we both knew it was a perfect fit.
We went on to play 127 games together over eight years, including 10 finals matches, and enjoyed some special moments, including earning All-Australian selection and becoming the club’s leading goal-kicker in 1996.
Phil Scott
Sadly, Mitch ruptured his ACL in early 1997 and missed the remainder of the season. He had returned to his best by 1999 and played every game that year, being made captain for the following season.
Our time together came to an end when Mitch decided to continue his career at Geelong. I still miss him.
After two eras of stability, 2001 marked the beginning of a new period for me, during which I was shared between six players, namely Kane Munro, Mitch Morton, Jamie McNamara, Brad Sheppard and Sharrod Wellingham, who still wears me on his back.
We've found our home down back, Sharrod and I, and I look forward to many more good times in the future!
Kane Munro
Jumper no.12 timeline
1987 Phil Scott 9 games (won 4, lost 5)
1988 Phil Scott 18 games (won 8, lost 10)
1989 Phil Scott 15 games (won 6, lost 9)
1990 Phil Scott 24 games (won 17, lost 7)
1993 Mitch White 20 games (won 11, lost 9)
1994 Mitch White 6 games (won 4, lost 2)
1995 Mitch White 23 games (won 14, lost 9)
1996 Mitch White 23 games (won 15, lost 8)
1997 Mitch White 5 games (won 4, lost 1)
1998 Mitch White 14 games (won 7, lost 7)
1999 Mitch White 24 games (won 13, lost 11)
2000 Mitch White 12 games (won 3, drew 1, lost 8)
2001 Greg Harding 9 games (lost 9)
2003 Kane Munro 6 games (won 3, drew 1, lost 2)
2005 Mitch Morton 3 games (won 1, lost 2)
2006 Mitch Morton 1 game (won 1)
2007 Mitch Morton 8 games (won 4, lost 4)
2008 Jamie McNamara 11 games (won 2, lost 9)
2009 Jamie McNamara 6 games (won 2, lost 4)
2010 Brad Sheppard 14 games (won 3, lost 11)
2011 Brad Sheppard 6 game (won 4, lost 2)
2013 Sharrod Wellingham 10 games (won 5, lost 5)
2014 Sharrod Wellingham 13 games (won 5, lost 8)
2015 Sharrod Wellingham 24 games (won 18, drew 1, lost 5)
2016 Sharrod Wellingham 19 games (won 13, lost 6)
NB The history of jumper no.12 includes only players who have represented the club at senior level during qualifying rounds and finals.
