On the eve of the 2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final, we look back at some of the most telling moments from our four premiership wins.
Take a trip down memory lane a relive some of the highlights from our 1992, 1994, 2006 and 2018 flag triumphs.
1992: Back-to-back miracles
West Coast’s historic first premiership triumph was highlighted by two miraculous goals in the third quarter. Trailing the Cats by 10 points midway through the penultimate term, the Eagles needed something special to wrench the Premiership Cup out of Victoria’s grasp for the first time in VFL history. Enter Peter Wilson. The bullocking forward pounced on a loose ball following a boundary throw in, stumbled, leapt to his feet and kicked the Sherrin, scissor-kick style, over his head. As famous commentator Dennis Cometti screamed “Like a cork in the ocean” the ball sailed through the major opening for one of the most miraculous goals in Grand Final history.
And then, less than 30 seconds later, Peter Matera kicked arguably the most important goal in West Coast Eagles history. The gut-busting winger reeled in a delicate pass from Brett Heady and put the pedal to the metal as he charged towards the attacking arc. He ‘set sail for home’ from 52 metres out and watched as the ball drifted left and later straightened to pierce the tall posts. Having gifted West Coast its first lead of the decider, Matera pumped the air with delight as fans at the MCG and back home in Western Australia erupted with joy.
West Coast would not be headed from that point as they charged towards a history-making 28-point victory.
1994: Fourth quarter blitz
Unlike West Coast's other three premiership triumphs, which have a combined margin of just 34 points, the Eagles obliterated Geelong en route to their second flag, winning the 1994 decider by a remarkable 80 points. As a result, it’s a little difficult to pin point one moment that turned that match, so we’re choosing to focus on the club’s most dominant phase of the game, its eight-goal final quarter.
It was, in essence, a victory lap for the Eagles, who broke Geelong’s resolve in the second and third quarters and carried a 36-point advantage into the last term. Chris Waterman got the party started with back-to-back goals before Jason Ball collected his second goal of the day following a big clunk and true kick from 40 metres out. Tony Evans bagged his third goal with a crafty left-foot shot from distance, Dean Kemp’s attempt at a pass to Chris Lewis dribbled through the tall posts, Shane Bond made the most of a holding free-kick, Drew Banfield converted the simplest of intercepts into six points and Lewis, who was cleaned up earlier in the quarter trying to reel in Kemp's 'pass', capped off the stunning stanza with an imperious set shot from bang on the attacking arc.
2006: That smother and the swingman’s goal
In our opinion the sequel was significantly better than the original and that was due in large part to a stunning piece of play from dogged midfielder Daniel Chick and scintillating swingman Adam Hunter. With scores sitting at 79-78 in West Coast’s favour, Michael Braun bombed the Sherrin to the top of the 50 metre arc just as the old ‘five minute warning’ kicked in. The ball spilled to the back of a large pack, Sydney mopped it up and looked certain to get it moving their way. But Daniel Chick wasn’t having any of it. The burley midfielder extended his arms, smothered Ryan O’Keefe’s clearing kick and scooped up the tumbling ball.
Chick could have thrown it on his own boot, but he spotted Hunter in the corner of his eye, gave off a deft handball and shepherded Nick Malceski, who was hot on his teammate’s tail. Hunter streamed into an open goal square, fired a low bullet through the big sticks and leapt into the air in celebration. The goal extended West Coast’s lead to seven and gave them some breathing space leading into the game’s final few minutes. It will long be remembered as one of the club’s most clutch Grand Final plays.
2018: Coast-to-coast
It’s hard to believe one of the greatest passages of plays in West Coast history happened more than two years ago. You could forgive fans for thinking things might not go the Eagles way with just two and half minutes remaining on the clock and Collingwood streaming down the far boundary with the game’s leading goal kicker, Jordan De Goey, sitting unmanned near the Pies’ goal square.
Enter Jeremy McGovern. The then three-time All Australian, who overcame all odds just to play the Grand Final after incurring a nasty hip injury in the preliminary final, decided to roll the dice, leave his direct opponent (De Goey) and soar for a speculative intercept mark. McGovern not only took the grab, he managed to executed a perfect aerial pirouette, stick the landing and hit a leading Nathan Vardy with a bullet-like 40 metre pass.
Vardy, who had already played a magnificent game to nullify the influence of All Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy, worked off the mark with pace and sent it skyward to Liam Ryan. The Geraldton high flier, who was at the time working his way back towards the goal, launched himself over two Magpies and latched on to the Sherrin at its highest point.
Showing poise beyond his experience (this was only his 13th AFL game and first at the MCG), Ryan scooped up the Sherrin from the deck, peddled back and pin pointed Dom Sheed with a 30 metre pass.
Interestingly, both Ryan and Sheed were meant to be off the ground in the dying minutes as part of the club’s rotation plan. But with play taking place on the far side of the ground, the club’s interchange staff couldn’t find a way to get them to the bench.
And thank heavens for that, because Sheed stepped up and kicked one of the game’s most iconic goals, drilling his drop punt to cap off the perfect coast-to-coast play – and one that propelled the Eagles to their fourth premiership triumph.
