BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 26: Liam Ryan of the Eagles celebrates kicking a goal during the round 23 AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the West Coast Eagles at The Gabba on August 26, 2018 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
It was a tale of two halves for the Eagles in 2020. They went into the hub and struggled big time and were immediately behind the eight-ball before heading home and proving unbeatable in Perth. However their season was ended in shocking circumstances when they lost the elimination final against the Pies at home. They'd still be flat about it.
Ins:Â Zac Langdon (GWS), Alex Witherden (West Coast), Luke Edwards (Draft), Isiah Winder (Draft), Zane Trew (Rookie draft)
Outs: Will Schofield (Retired), Nic Reid (Delisted), Hamish Brayshaw (Delisted), Francis Watson (Delisted), Anthony Treacy (Delisted), Mitch O’Neill (Delisted).
Off-season Grade: D
The Eagles are clearly going for one last shot at the stumps (premiership). But they haven't significantly topped their list. Neither Langdon or Witherden are walk-up starts in the best 22 and neither will make West Coast that much better. In saying that, they can play roles for this team and add to its depth.
Willie Rioli is also set to return from his WADA suspension mid-season to give Adam Simpson's team a boost.
We will know pretty early where the Eagles are in the competition - they play a number of teams from the the fop four in 2020 and teams vying for the double chance this season. Round 2 they travel to play the Dogs in an early test for their ability to win away from home.
That is followed by hosting Port Adelaide before a trip back to Marvel Stadium to play St Kilda. Revenge will be on the mind in Round 5 when they face the Pies at home before a trip to Geelong followed by the derby. It's a busy start!
B: Alex Witherden, Tom Barrass, Brad Sheppard
HB:Â Shannon Hurn, Jeremy McGovern, Liam Duggan
C:Â Dom Sheed, Tim Kelly, Andrew Gaff
HF:Â Jamie Cripps, Jack Darling, Jake Waterman
F:Â Oscar Allen, Josh Kennedy, Liam Ryan
FOLL:Â Nic Naitanui, Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo
I/C: Jack Petruccelle, Jackson Nelson, Jack Redden, Zac Langdon
The Eagles line-up as strong as any team in the league, with one of the most stout backlines and potent forward lines in the competition. It is looming to potentially be Shannon Hurn and Josh Kennedy's last seasons in the game, while they will start the year without the likes of Elliot Yeo and Luke Shuey to thin out the midfield through injury.
The Eagles bate deep in midfield and bat deep with experience in there, they have the ability to outwork a lot of opponents through pure miles in the legs. When that midfield gets silver service from Nic Naitanui they become just about unstoppable.
Their intercept marking is elite and a major way they set-up to win the ball back. If there is a weakness it maybe comes from their lack of leg speed in midfield. They can be exposed on the outside at times and have been made to look slow by younger sleeker midfield groups.
2nd
The Eagles are a premiership threat at their best, but they have shown over the last two years that they can fall away from the leading pack quickly. Their record away from home was less than ideal last year - albeit in different circumstances than what they face in 2021. A touch of the trust is gone with the Eagles but they'll be hard to beat at home and should win enough on the road to challenge for the double chance.