As the West Coast Eagles prepare for their 25th finals campaign, the most since the VFL became the AFL in 1990, it was thirty years ago this week in which the fledgling club won its first final.
After two dramatic weeks in which the Eagles and Collingwood played out a draw and then a replay, West Coast had to travel to Melbourne again to take on a Demons side which was coming off a nine point win over reigning premiers Hawthorn.
In front of 57,546 fans at Waverly, the game was played at a frenetic pace with Chris Mainwaring booting the first two goals in the opening minutes and playing an influential role in the contest.
However, it was unsung hero Chris Waterman who played one of the games of his life.
The versatile left footer kicked a career best six goals in the 30 point win overshadowing star full forward Peter Sumich who bagged four of his own.
Waterman, who was dropped after the drawn match had a day out against the Dees off a half forward flank.
"I had been left out of the replay we had lost and came back in but I was lucky to get on the end of a few from Lewi (Chris Lewis) who had an unbelievable year," Waterman recalls.
"I managed to kick six which was a pretty nice return."
For Eagles fans it was a significant moment in club history after losing a heartbreaking elimination final against Melbourne in 1988 followed by the draw against Collingwood in 1990 and the replay which ended in a 59 point defeat.
However, for the team, two things drove a determined performance at Waverley on September 22, 1990.
"Melbourne beat us at Subi late in the season and they were carrying on a bit, we remembered that, plus the sting from losing the replay, I think really drove us to play well that day, Waterman says."
"We had a spring in our step from the moment we got out of the hotel and blokes like Mainy and Lewi were really on that day.
The following preseason Waterman switched to a more defensive role in which his supreme kicking skills could help the Eagles launch more attack from the backline.
30 years later and his son, Jake is having his own impact at both ends of the ground.
Craig Turley had 26 disposals while mobile ruckman Laurie Keene outplayed Melbourne’s future Brownlow Medallist Jim Stynes with 23 disposals, 10 hitouts and a goal.
Karl Langdon delivered a 12 disposal, one goal performance against Melbourne capping a consistent season for the Eagles in which he booted a career best 39 goals.
While he doesn't remember a lot about that landmark victory, he does recall the intense clash which ended deadlocked with the Magpies a fortnight earlier.
“That Melbourne game I don't remember really well but the draw I can recall very well, we were unlucky not winning that one," Langdon says.
The challenges of travel emerged late in the season with an airline strike causing havoc amid a six game away travel schedule.
“We weren't that concerned with travel it was just a part of it and something we just dealt with."
A year later the Eagles faced Melbourne again in the semi final at Waverley winning by 38 points and featuring several different faces.
Langdon broke his arm early that day but says a number of new players in the '91 team helped propel the side forward including the likes of Peter Matera, Glen Jakovich and Tony Evans.
Twelve players from the 1990 semi final victory featured in the 1992 premiership triumph.
Since the historic victory over the Demons the Eagles have won 25 finals and four premierships.
Details
West Coast Eagles 4.2 10.5 16.10 19.16 (130)
Melbourne 2.1 2.8 8.9 15.10 (100)
Goals
West Coast Eagles: Waterman 6, Sumich 4, Jackson 3, Mainwaring 2, Keene 1, Kemp, Langdon, Lewis
Melbourne: Grinter 4, Bennett 2, Jackson, Yeats, Campbell 1, Eishold, Healy, Spalding, Tingay
Best
West Coast Eagles: Mainwaring, Turley, Waterman, Keene, Kemp, Lewis
Melbourne: Healy, Stretch, Eishold, Grinter
