There has been plenty of false dawns and disappointment for West Coast since the pandemic.
But the days of the Eagles being easy prey appear to be over – particularly at home.
After two 100-point losses in the first seven rounds of the season, the Eagles have not been beaten by more than 32 points in their last seven games and have some winnable contests on the run home.
They are starting to play an identifiable brand and there is light at the end of the tunnel with the litany of top draft picks showing they can carry the club forward.
It will help in their pursuit of players from other clubs in the trade and free agency window in October, with several Western Australians viewed as gettable able to give them a quick spike.
Take a look at five of the top names the Eagles have been tied to.
Mitch Georgiades
Like Warner, Georgiades is a Western Australian West Coast have previously been strongly linked to.
No player has had more set shots on goal than Georgiades and he would provide experience to the Eagles' front end.
“I love it here, I love what we're building as a club…I feel like I am stepping up as a leader and taking this club forward a little bit, so I'm not focused too far ahead in the future,” he told reporters in April.
But with the future seemingly bleak for Port Adelaide, would the 24-year-old prefer to find a club further advanced in their rebuild in his home state?
West Coast is being spearheaded by Jake Waterman and Jobe Shanahan currently, but Fremantle and Adelaide are among the clubs to show how potent a three pronged tall forward line can be – could Georgiades be that piece for the Eagles?
