Souvenir edition August 6, YEARS STRONG

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1 Souvenir edition August 6, YEARS STRONG Main image: Steve Ferrier

2 Happily helping the West Coast Eagles soar We re as mad about the footy as you. Which is why we re so happy to become a sponsor of the West Coast Eagles in their 25th year. And in 2012 as we grow in our partnership we ll be on the guernsey. Go the Eagles! To find out what else we re doing across our home state, visit WA4EVER.com Bank of Western Australia Ltd ABN AFSL HOST11-K2061

3 The Weekend West August 6, 2011 Know the score: In round 22 last year John Worsfold coached his 3 210th game for West Coast, which is one more than he played. 25 YEARS STRONG WORDS: MARK DUFFIELD Woosha the messiah If it wasn t official before, it is now. West Coast coach John Worsfold has usurped Mick Malthouse as the most influential figure in the highly successful 25-year history of the football club. The clincher has been Worsfold s successful rebuild of his team a project three years in the making and unleashed on an unsuspecting AFL competition in stunning fashion during the 2011 season. Malthouse, who made the Eagles a national powerhouse in the early 1990s, coached their first premiership team in 1992 and another in 1994 and never missed a finals series during 10 years in Perth, made for a hard target to chase down. But his dual premiership captain has got him now, imposing his own fingerprint on a club not just because of attaining and regaining on-field success, but because of his role in reclaiming the club s soul. West Coast rarely lose their way on the field. They won more games in their debut season under Ron Alexander in 1987 (11) than any first-year team since. They made the finals sooner in their second year than any team since. They played in a grand final in 1991 in their fifth year, won a premiership in their sixth year and only Hawthorn (four flags) have bettered their three in 25 years in the competition. West Coast have missed the finals just seven times in that time, another record no other club of their era has matched. But they lost their way off-field in the late 1990s and 2000s. While still formidable on the park, a section of their player group lived like rock stars off it. The way back from those days, which included two grand finals and a premiership but unravelled with the sacking of Ben Cousins, the departure of premiership captain Chris Judd and a series of scandals that rocked one of the AFL s most powerful clubs to its very foundations, was a painful exercise. The club plunged to the bottom of the ladder for the first time in its history and missed finals three years in a row another first. It took Worsfold to the very edge of coaching credibility. He kept pronouncing that his team was on track when the rest of the football world was convinced the Eagles had reversed their position from the success-drenched but scandal-riddled days of 2005 and Worsfold was subject to criticism and ridicule and his sacking became a matter of not if but when. The smart money suggested the coach would be axed early this season when it was predicted the Eagles would be staring down the barrel of a 2-6 win-loss record. Now, you can file those theories along with Y2K doom and Bob Hawke s by 1990 no Australian child will be living in poverty pronouncements. Worsfold, known for his unbending will during a 209-game career when he never left anything on the field, has now prevailed as a coach. He hasn t just remade the Eagles playing list, he also has helped rebuild the club s soul and restored its place in the community. In that context, West Coast s 25th anniversary should not just be a celebration of what the club has been but also what it has now become. No person has had more to do with that than Worsfold, the captain who refused to surrender and the coach who refused to bend, winning out over the odds on both fronts. INDEX Malthouse looks back 5 Worsfold s vision 6 The Norm Smith club 8,9 Eagles set standard 10 Priddis miracle game 11 Our All-Star team 12,13 25 magic moments 14 Unsung hero 16,17 The unlucky ones 19 The immortals 20 Cummings fondest game 21 Every player who s ever played 22 THE TEAM Editor: Ray Wilson Design: Steve Penn Contributors: Mark Duffield, Steve Butler, Ray Wilson, Craig O Donoghue, Dale Miller Pictures: The West Australian and Getty Images Illustration: Don Lindsay

4 West Coast Eagles and Seven. A Centimetre Perfect partnership from day one. Now that s special. CONGRATULATIONS WEST COAST EAGLES, WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE SHARED IN YOUR SUCCESS.

5 The Weekend West August 6, WORDS: STEVE BUTLER Know the score: In 1991 coach Mick Malthouse s winning percentage was an incredible 81 after the Eagles won 21 games but not the flag. 25 YEARS STRONG Eagles take giant strides after road trips from hell The making of West Coast as an AFL powerhouse came through resilience in defeat in 1990, according to dual Eagles premiership coach Mick Malthouse A gruelling six-week travel schedule, including a preliminary final loss to Essendon, saw West Coast travel to Carrara on the Gold Coast, Kardinia Park to play Geelong before four consecutive finals at Waverley Park in Melbourne to finish the 1990 season. My favourite recollection at Collingwood is a team photograph from the 2002 grand final, but my favourite time looking back at West Coast was our last six games in 1990, Malthouse said. That to me was the makings of our football club. We had six games away and that was absolutely the makings of our 1991 run (to the grand final) and our 1992 premiership. There was no TV on the planes and even an airline strike, but there were no complaints. On the sixth trip of the run we went from Perth to Kalgoorlie, Kalgoorlie to Mildura and Mildura to Melbourne and there was not one complaint. The club had never won a final and was the absolute underdog in the semi against Melbourne. But we beat them and I thought that it was not only the guts of the organisation, but the guts of those players. What a wonderful testament to courage and sustainability, you just knew we were on to something fantastic. Malthouse remains West Coast s most decorated coach after guiding them through a remarkable 10 seasons following his move to Perth late in The 1980 Richmond premiership defender initially regarded himself a distant third to win the job behind Robert Walls and Wayne Schimmelbusch. After winning the post, Malthouse was overwhelmed by the WA parochialism, both in the vehement dislike for Victorian football and in the way the Eagles players coveted their WAFL teams more than their opportunity in the new national competition. He recalled a mad rush by players to sit at the same tables as their WAFL teammates when he first addressed them. But a new standard was soon established with the help of Malthouse s confidantes Robbie Wiley (Richmond), Ian Miller (Fitzroy), Tim Gepp (Richmond) and George Young (St Kilda), who had all played in the VFL. There were a few hidden snags in the stream, so to speak, that I was very unaware of, Malthouse said. One was the fear of and the record at the MCG. I was told at the time that there had been no West Australian side ever, whether it be junior, State of Origin or West Coast or anyone, who had ever won at the MCG. I was also concerned when people at the football club told me we needed to be five or six goals better than the opposition to be able to win away and I saw them both as highly negative influences. It was so wrong to even remotely have those things on your mind. I was told we couldn t travel (and win), and the game style was skewiff for AFL football as far as I was concerned because it was very offensive with no mention of defence. And I was just astounded that players had an understanding of who played in the under-19s down at West Perth, but probably couldn t tell you who played centre half-forward for Essendon. But we alleviated all that very quickly. That player group opened up and accepted what I was trying to get across. They embraced it and in the end, they owned it. The more we bled for our team, the more we created the team. Malthouse was cautious about naming his best players during his time at West Coast. Leigh Matthews and Wayne Carey are the best two best players he had seen but quickly added that four-times Eagles club champion Glen Jakovich had regularly conquered Carey under his watch. I had a real soft spot for Glen, he is a ripping bloke and I loved the way he played, he said. If he was a centre half-back in Melbourne, he would be voted in the best 10 or 12 players who have gone around. He also said Peter Sumich s 111 goals and 89 behinds ( and another 30 out on the full ) in 1991 was a standout individual performance. Malthouse said the club always remained close to his thoughts. You beauty: John Worsfold and Mick Malthouse hold aloft the 1992 premiership cup. Right: Malthouse with Glen Jakovich. WEST COAST FINISHES UNDER MALTHOUSE 1990 third 1991 second 1992 first 1993 fourth 1994 first 1995 sixth 1996 fifth 1997 sixth 1998 seventh 1999 fifth

6 25 YEARS STRONG The Weekend West August 6, 2011 Know the score: Steve Malaxos collected 48 disposals against St Kilda in the final qualifying game of 1987 at Subiaco Oval but didn t poll a Brownlow Medal vote. 6 WORDS: RAY WILSON Two more bites at a flag Very few people were willing to gamble on John Worsfold s hobby horse last year. But suddenly, the world according to Woosha is taking shape, much to the delight of West Coast fans and to the amazement of the football universe in general. Worsfold s sermons about the potential of the team to challenge for a premiership from 2012 were greeted with cynicism and, at times, ridicule. After a summer of soul-searching and fact-finding, Worsfold has steered West Coast into a position close to where he said they d be. And, now, he has a few more proclamations that the footy faithful might want to tune in to. The erudite coach claims his team has two premiership windows in the coming years one with and one without veterans such as Darren Glass, Dean Cox, Andrew Embley and Daniel Kerr. There is an opportunity while these guys are still playing, and I believe there will remain an opportunity when they have finished, Worsfold said. We re very comfortable with the players we have been pushing up, the likes of Scott Lycett, Andrew Gaff and Brad Sheppard. If we don t win a premiership with the older guys still playing, then the likes of Beau Waters and Sam Butler might be the veterans in the next premiership. They will be the real senior players and others like Nic Naitanui, Scott Selwood and Luke Shuey will be the 100-game players, and experienced in their own right. In measures ranging from methods you d expect from an ordered, scientific mind to simple gut feelings, Worsfold turned himself around as much as the playing group after a tumultuous 2010 which threatened to end his coaching career. The scientist in Worsfold called for feedback from coaches and players, and from CEO Trevor Nisbett and chairman Alan Cransberg. He also went outside the square in an effort to improve his coaching. Midway through last season, Worsfold already had changed the set-ups for his lieutenants, and he also invited Ric Charlesworth, a world-renowned strategist and coach, to the club to address the Eagles coaching group. Worsfold also sought the input of the head coaches of the All Blacks. He had a skype session with assistant coach Wayne Smith and met with head coach Graham Henry when in New Zealand over summer. Graham didn t know anything about me or the sport but I just talked to him about coaching to get some different ideas, so I implemented a few things there, Worsfold said. I discussed with him where I felt I was at with my playing group and I appreciated talking to someone totally outside our organisation how he saw things with player issues, dealing with older and younger players, that sort of thing. Worsfold also took a more direct communication line to the players, but it wasn t a go-for-broke approach as suggested by some people because he was in the last year of his contract. There s no doubt I was more distant from the players last year even though I still met them regularly one-on-one, he said. It was more contrived than natural. I ve gone back to a more natural feel, a gut feel and communicate with the players that way. I was so focused on trying to explain the future of the club I got away a bit from coaching day to day. The words were never hollow to me because I was backing in our recruiters and that was a big reason why I was confident saying we have got talent going forward. And all of a sudden we went from people looking at the club and asking where is the talent to what a talented list, in one summer. WORSFOLD ON GAME PLANS Our game style had to change after the 2006 premiership because our personnel changed. Had we had the same players I would have kept the same style of footy going, no doubt. And it still would have been good enough to win. Back then some people called it man-on-man, we thought it was 18 blokes in position, never allowing the opposition a loose man. These days, in a nutshell, our style revolves around getting the ball into our forward line and locking it in. If the opposition get it, our aim is to win it back off them as quickly as we can. We wanted Phillip Walsh (strategist) to join us because we felt he was probably the pioneer of the way the game has gone. I wanted to get our team to play that way because it was an area where we could get better as a team. ON COACHING VERSUS PLAYING The roles are so different. A seven-year-old dreams about playing footy at any level, he doesn t dream about one day wanting to be a coach. As a player you go home after a loss and say to yourself that at least you did your best. As a coach, you feel it s totally your responsibility. You ask me whether I d like to coach for another decade. My answer is yes and no. Yes, because I love the involvement in the game, and no because it wears you down, it is intense and offers very little respite. The answer could be yes but I might need a gap year! ON CAPTAINCY Beau Waters is an outstanding leader, so, too, is Josh Kennedy and Shannon Hurn in different ways. Scott Selwood s another. We have some outstanding leaders there. Some are stronger on field than off field, all are a little bit different. There can be a case made where you have more than one captain. That would be possible, especially if you had two guys who were both great leaders in totally different areas and there was no crossover. ON NAITANUI If you didn t know he was 202cm, you d say he was a real good mover in the way he hunts the footy. His leap is exceptional. How many times do you see a slow-mo replay almost a full arm higher than big blokes that he s jumping against? He s already a good player, already an impact player. He is going to be an exceptional player, not a 30-possession type but doing things to make the team look better. LOOKING BACK One of strongest memories I have at the club is first meeting Ross Glendinning, Phil Narkle and John Annear, the guys who came back from Melbourne. It suddenly hit home that we were in a serious business. I d grown up wearing the No.4 North Melbourne guernsey (Glendinning s) at training with my junior footy club, so that was pretty special. I loved playing with those blokes and others like Michael Brennan and Robbie Wiley, all the time trying to show that you were worthy of playing alongside them.

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8 25 YEARS STRONG The Weekend West August 6, 2011 Know the score: In the final home-and-away game of 2006 West Coast kicked 11.1 in the third term against Richmond. 8 The Norm Smith Medal club PETER MATERA 1992 We were a young side in 1991, especially myself and a few others like Dean Kemp. Playing at Waverley in the grand final with all the greats that I looked up to at Hawthorn, we were a bit shell shocked and they came out and pretty much belted us physically. The first thing of the 1992 grand final I recall was Gary Ablett taking out Don Pyke in a forward pocket. I was probably about 20m away. To see Donny go down, he was pretty much out of it. He wanted to get up and keep going and just to see him come back about half an hour later had a big impact on the game. We went in at half-time 12 points down but we knew that going into the third quarter they were running out of legs. If we stuck at our game plan and did our job individually, we knew we could get over the line. Dean Kemp s game was awesome, along with the performance of Brett Heady. Paul Couch was a player who we had to watch and he was going really well in the first half. Brett did a really good job on him. There was also some personal glory with the five goals that I kicked, particularly the one that put us in the lead from outside 50m. It was a great feeling of relief that we were on our way to winning a flag. I remember Peter Wilson s goal over his head and just the one-on-one battles all day. I think it showed what 21 guys could do when they were committed. The first 10 minutes after the siren was a bit of a shock in a way. It really didn t sink in until we were down in the rooms with family and friends. DEAN KEMP 1994 We prepared for the grand final differently to home-and-away games. Our hotel was just across the road from the MCG and we walked to the ground because Mick (Malthouse) wanted us to be among the crowd and soak up the atmosphere. Eagles fans were encouraging us and Geelong fans were into us saying things that you could never repeat. But we were a tight group and walking to the ground together was a really special moment. Being a grand final, you always want to get your hands on the ball early so you can build confidence and keep any negative thoughts out of your head. I wasn t sure who I d play on before Mark Bairstow came my way. He d played on Peter Matera in 1992 so I thought if I could start well, that may get him thinking about things he d rather forget. I was pretty happy when I got some early kicks. I always thought Geelong would be better than the first time and have a few tricks up their sleeve, but once we got on top we pulled away. It s an awesome feeling when you know you re far enough in front and can t lose. I d kicked a goal during the third quarter and then got another one in the final term. I was trying to pass the ball to Chris Lewis from about 55m out but the kick went over his head and it kept bouncing and dribbled through. We ran past each other not long after that and I said sorry about the pass, but he said don t worry about that, I m rapt. I was blown away when they announced I d won the Norm Smith Medal. You re standing there among the guys and having a lot of fun and then to hear your name read out is unbelievable. You ve just won a premiership and you get the Norm Smith Medal, too. It has made my life. CHRIS JUDD 2005 I remember being incredibly nervous at ABOVE: Andrew Embley celebrates West Coast s 2006 flag with Beau Waters, left, Ash Hansen, Adam Hunter, Rowan Jones and Sam Butler. FAR LEFT: Peter Matera punches the air after receiving the 1992 Norm Smith Medal from Carlton great Bruce Doull. LEFT: Chris Judd rehearses his speech in BELOW: Dean Kemp holds aloft the 1994 premiership cup. the start of that day. I was sitting in the hotel room with Kerry (Daniel Kerr) and we were getting up to go to the toilet every five minutes. The worst bit was waiting at the hotel, but once you got to the ground, you were just doing what you do. In a funny way, it was almost a relief. The last five games against Sydney almost seemed like one long game just one big, long arm-wrestle. The last quarter went for some time and I was in the contest for the Leo Barry mark at the end. I remember thinking we were still a chance until he took that mark and that was the last roll of the dice. The main thing I remember, pretty much from both grand finals, was the complete exhaustion at the end of the games. It was almost as if you d played every game of the season and every final at once and you were just cooked. Obviously that year the exhaustion was coupled with the sadness of the fact that we didn t get the job done. At that point, you can t stop your mind jumping

9 The Weekend West August 6, Know the score: Ben Cousins and Glen Jakovich share the most number of club champion awards with four apiece. 25 YEARS STRONG down the track, wondering if you re ever going to get one. Very few of our players had good games, but we still only lost by four points. The year later, it was like everyone played well and we only won by a point. I obviously look back with fondness on the premiership we won the year later because it gives you a sense that no matter what happens in your footy career, you ve really achieved what you set out to do. It s almost like a bit of a security blanket. The whole thing about collecting the medal is a real blur. I just remember losing and feeling flat and exhausted and all of a sudden someone was telling me I had to go on stage. I don t want to downplay the importance of the Norm Smith, but when you lose the grand final it s sort of a side issue because it s not what you re there for. ANDREW EMBLEY 2006 We d been there in 2005 and the result was extremely disappointing. I think I realised in that 2006 grand final week that it s just so hard to make a grand final, let alone win one and here we were. We d worked extremely hard to give ourselves another chance. I remember thinking we re not going to let this one go. We knew how good a team Sydney were and we knew all the games we d played against them previously had been extremely close. We d gone into half-time with a good lead and we were confident. We d been playing good football, but then after halftime Sydney, like all good sides do, came back at us. I remember Adam Goodes kicking a goal early in the final quarter and it made the game really tight. I looked up at the scoreboard and thought we ve got a big game on our hands here. It was just an incredible feeling when that siren sounded. I just remember falling to my knees and I had my head in my hands and just couldn t believe what we d just achieved. It was a surreal moment. I felt just total relief. It was one of the most mentally draining games that I ve ever been involved in. I was totally surprised when my name got read out for the Norm Smith Medal. You re just so wrapped up in the moment. I almost forgot there was a winner of the medal. I ended up being diagnosed with paralysed vocal chords. That particular week heading into the grand final was actually the best my voice had been for three or four weeks. I d just totally lost it. THE SCOREBOARDS 1992 GRAND FINAL WEST COAST (113) def GEELONG (85) GOALS WEST COAST: P Sumich 6; P Matera 5; T Evans 3; P Wilson 2. GEELONG: B Brownless, G Ablett 3; N Bruns, P Couch, K Hinkley, T Poole, P Riccardi, B Stoneham. BEST WEST COAST: P Matera, A McIntosh, T Evans, D Kemp, B Heady, P Sumich, J Worsfold. GEELONG: K Hinkley, T McGrath, B Stoneham, P Couch, M Bairstow, G Hocking GRAND FINAL WEST COAST (143) def GEELONG 8.15 (63) GOALS WEST COAST: T Evans 3; B Heady, D Kemp, P Sumich, P Wilson, S Bond, J Ball, C Lewis, C Waterman 2; D Banfield. GEELONG: B Brownless 4; A Wills, G Ablett, P Couch, P Riccardi. BEST WEST COAST: D Kemp, G Jakovich, D Pyke, G McKenna, M Brennan, T Evans. GEELONG: M Mansfield, S O Reilly, B Brownless, P Riccardi, P Couch, G Hocking GRAND FINAL SYDNEY 8.10 (58) def WEST COAST 7.12 (54) GOALS SYDNEY: B Hall 2; A Goodes, A Schneider, A Buchanan, T Kennelly, M O Loughlin, D Jolly. WEST COAST: A Hunter 2; A Hansen, D Cox, B Cousins, A Embley, M Nicoski. BEST SYDNEY: A Buchanan, N Fosdike, B Kirk, L Roberts-Thomson, J Bolton, L Barry, A Goodes. WEST COAST: C Judd, D Wirrpanda, D Cox, B Cousins, A Embley, A Hunter GRAND FINAL WEST COAST (85) def SYDNEY (84) GOALS WEST COAST: Q Lynch 3; A Hansen, B Cousins, A Embley 2; C Judd, S Armstrong, A Hunter. SYDNEY: M O Loughlin, N Davis 3; B Mathews, L Roberts-Thomson, A Goodes, A Schneider, R O Keefe, N Malceski. BEST WEST COAST: A Embley, D Cox, D Kerr, C Judd, B Waters, A Hansen, C Fletcher, D Chick. SYDNEY: B Kirk, T Kennelly, A Goodes, T Richards, J McVeigh, N Fosdike, A Buchanan. No hospital excess for kids With Medibank in Western Australia you ll find plenty of reasons to smile, including: no excess for kids hospital stays 1 Ambulance included on all covers One month free comprehensive ambulance cover included on all our products 2 Plus one month free if you take out hospital and extras by 31 August. 3 New products. Great value. Join Medibank today. To find out how, visit medibank.com.au or call Waiting periods apply including 12 months for pre-existing ailments. 1 Out of pocket expenses may apply. 2 For medically necessary ambulance services. Benefits are not payable if you are covered from another source such as a State scheme. 3 For new members on new memberships. Must pay first month and set up direct debit when joining. Excludes Ambulance Cover, OSHC, Visitors Health Insurance and Working Visa Health Insurance. Not available with any other offer. Medibank Private Ltd ABN

10 25 YEARS STRONG The Weekend West August 6, 2011 Know the score: West Coast s lowest score of 1.12 came on an infamous day at Windy Hill in 1989 when Essendon booted Chris Mainwaring jumps for joy as the West Coast Eagles win their first grand final in Picture: Rod Taylor WORDS: RAY WILSON Muscling in on the big boys When West Coast entered the then VFL in 1987 there was plenty of promise but a premiership in the first few years was built more on prayers than substance. At that time, if somebody had guaranteed the Eagles three premierships in their first quarter of a century, the club hierarchy would have gleefully accepted. Flags are tough to come by, just ask Richmond, Melbourne, St Kilda, the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle. All those clubs have failed to win a flag since the competition expanded to take in West Coast and the Brisbane Bears in 1987, and subsequently, Adelaide in 1991, Fremantle in 1995, Port Adelaide in 1997 and Gold Coast this year. Ten of the last 25 premierships have come from non-victorian clubs, with Brisbane and West Coast leading the way with three each. Brisbane s came with a rush from while the Eagles were supreme in 1992 and 1994, before snaffling their third premiership in an epic one-point heart-stopper against Sydney in Under Malcolm Blight, Adelaide snared the premierships while Port Adelaide s day in the sun came on September 25, 2004 when they beat Brisbane by 40 points. A year later, Sydney (formerly South Melbourne) embraced their first flag since Hawthorn are the only Victorian club to better the premiership successes of West Coast and Brisbane since the two non- Victorian clubs paid their way to become part of the competition. The Hawks won four flags, in 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008, and also lost to Carlton in the 1987 grand final. TOP OF THE CLASS SINCE 1987 Team Premiers Losing GF Hawthorn 1988, 89, 91, West Coast 1992, 94, , 2005 Brisbane Geelong 2007, , 92, 94, 95, 2008 Collingwood 1990, Carlton 1987, , 99 Essendon 1993, , 2001 Nth Melbourne 1996, Adelaide Port Adelaide Sydney , 2006 Since 1987, Fremantle, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, Melbourne and Richmond have yet to break the premiership drought. * Collingwood also drew with St Kilda in the first grand final in While West Coast top the non-victorian clubs with five appearances in grand finals, the hapless Geelong have been in the frame to win seven premierships but managed only two, in 2007 and Hawthorn (1989, 2008), West Coast (1992 and 1994) and Carlton (1995) all smashed the Cats dreams on the biggest day of the year. Bankwest Gold Term Deposit 6.20 Fixed for 9 months LIMITED OFFER visit any store π Important things you should know: This product is issued by Bank of Western Australia Ltd ABN AFSL Any advice given is of a general nature only and is not based on any consideration of your objectives, financial situation or needs. The account requires a minimum deposit of $5,000. There is a $2,000,000 maximum investment limit per customer. You should consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and whether the product is right for you. A PDS is available from

11 The Weekend West August 6, Know the score: In Chris Judd s only game at WAFL level for East Perth he kicked five goals and polled top votes in the Sandover Medal. 25 YEARS STRONG WORDS: DALE MILLER My dream debut Every AFL footballer cherishes their first game and the rush that comes from reaching the elite level Matt Priddis celebrates his debut against Geelong. Picture: SMG Images For Matt Priddis, the first taste of the big time is especially hard to forget. The West Coast playmaker made his debut at 21, finally earning his shot after being overlooked in three national drafts and battling negative perceptions over his lack of speed and ball use. And when the moment finally came at a blustery Skilled Stadium in round 10, 2006, it wasn t just any game. The Eagles missing an injured Chris Judd appeared down and out at the 18-minute mark of the third quarter when they trailed Geelong by 54 points. But the 2006 premiers produced one of the more remarkable comebacks in AFL history to stun the hosts and triumph by three points, 16.5 (101) to 15.8 (98). Priddis still rates that game as one of the most memorable of his career. Even if my career ended at that one game it would have been a pretty special day for me, Priddis said. I remember at half-time they had massive belief in their ability, their fitness, the game plan. They just never felt like they were out of it. The heroics of Ben Cousins, Daniel Kerr, I think that really stood out to me. Priddis, the travelling emergency, was told an hour before bouncedown that he was in the side to replace Mark Seaby. Before I d even got on the ground Adam Hunter had been pushed into the dugout and broke his nose and he had his head wrapped, Priddis said. David Wirrpanda went back with the flight and collided with Gary Ablett. It was a really great contest between those two. I think from that moment you just really took notice that this is AFL football and the boys who are out there mean business. West Coast kicked just four goals in the first half, but two majors from outside 50m from Andrew Embley and another three from Tyson Stenglein were pivotal in the late charge. Priddis recalls the influence of Kerr, whose 31 disposals earned him three Brownlow Medal votes. He was the complete midfielder, Priddis said. To be able to win it in close and then to be able to run and carry. He kicked a really good, inspirational goal in that third term and it was just an inspiring performance. Priddis, who played just one more match in that premiership year, is now a mainstay of West Coast s midfield and still feels deeply indebted to the club which gave him a rookie position at the end of It s everything that I dreamt of and wanted to be a part of, Priddis said. Happy to help with your future too We re doing more than helping the West Coast Eagles soar. Your savings can too with this special rate of 6.20% p.a. fixed for 9 months, exclusive to West Coast Eagles fans. Receive interest on maturity when you deposit at least $5,000 ($2M maximum investment). Simply use the code word to secure this great rate on a new Gold Term Deposit. Hurry, offer ends 19 August Your code word is: EAGLES25 Plus turn to page 18 for your chance to WIN lunch with a West Coast Eagle! your local Bankwest store, from bankwest.com.au, or by calling This special rate of 6.20% p.a. fixed for 9 months is only available until 19 August Promotional Period 6/8/11 19/8/11. Draw Date 7/09/11. Winner will be contacted by phone and in writing within 4 days of Draw Date. Full terms and conditions available at bankwest.com.au HOST11-K2052

12 Know the score: Craig Turley, Peter Matera and Daniel Kerr have all been runners-up in the Brownlow Medal. BACKS HALF-BACKS CENTRES HALF-FORWARDS DREW BANFIELD Born: Feb 27, 1974 Debut: 1993 No: 31, 6 Games: 265 GUY McKENNA Born: May 11, 1969 Debut: 1988 No: 17 Games: 267 PETER MATERA Born: April 3, 1969 Debut: 1990 No: 30 Games: 253 BRETT HEADY Born: Jan 4, 1970 Debut: 1990 No: 39, 1 Games: 156 DARREN GLASS Born: May 14, 1981 Debut: 2000 No: 23 Games: 212 GLEN JAKOVICH Born: March 24, 1973 Debut: 1991 No: 48, 27 Games: 276 DEAN KEMP Born: Feb 17, 1969 Debut: 1990 No: 33, 2 Games: 243 MITCHELL WHITE Born: March 28, 1973 Debut: 1991 No: 47, 31, 12 Games: 151 ASHLEY McINTOSH Born: Oct 20, 1972 Debut: 1991 No: 53, 11 Games: 242 JOHN WORSFOLD Born: Sept 25, 1968 Debut: 1987 No: 24 Games: 209 CHRIS MAINWARING Born: Dec 27, 1965 Debut: 1987 No: 3 Games: 201 CHRIS LEWIS Born: March 17, 1969 Debut: 1987 No: 28 Games: 215 Our Eagles All-Stars Chief football writer Mark Duffield and Ray Wilson select the cream of the crop from the past 25 years Some of West Coast s contemporary heroes have edged out four of yesteryear s top-liners in our Eagles All-Star line-up of the last 25 years. Skipper Darren Glass, classy forward Mark LeCras, utility player Andrew Embley and on-baller Daniel Kerr all have undeniable claims for inclusion. And there was also strong discussion on whether Josh Kennedy, in his fourth season, had fulfilled enough of a residential period to be included. While it appears inevitable that the big forward will one day make the team, he probably needs to push further claims this year and next. From our All-Star team selected to mark West Coast s 20th year, Michael Brennan, Chris Waterman, Dwayne Lamb and Michael Gardiner are all unlucky to have lost their spots. Brennan and Waterman are dual premiership players while Lamb was a superb run-with player who each week was handed some of football s toughest challenges. He also played in the 1992 premiership. Gardiner, a 2003 All-Australian, loses his place despite 129 games for the club. We ve gone with only one ruckman because we figured that Kerr, Embley, Don Pyke and Tony Evans deserved their spots on the bench. The four newcomers came to the selection table armed with glowing references. Glass, captain since 2008, has twice won the club champion award and is a two-times All-Australian. He could easily get the nod from selectors again this season after recovering from his injury-riddled Kerr was listed as an emergency in the 2006 line-up which was chosen in August. Since then, he has won All-Australian honours in 2007 and was outstanding in the 2006 premiership. He was runner-up in the Brownlow Medal in 2005 and, though ineligible, he finished top three in 2006 and Embley has stood the test of time. A member of West Coast s 200-club, the veteran has reserved some of his best performances for finals matches, with his effort in the 2006 grand final rewarded with the Norm Smith Medal. LeCras, at 24, is the youngest member of the All-Star team. While the talented goal sneak has spread his wings this season with shifts in the midfield, he was awarded All-Australian honours last season as a small forward and many critics believed he also should have been named in the team in 2009.

13 Know the score: In 2006 Sydney beat West Coast 85 points to 84 in the first qualifying final before the Eagles reversed the scores to take the grand final. FORWARDS RUCK INTERCHANGE PHIL MATERA Born: Nov 27, 1975 Debut: 1996 No: 33 Games: 179 DEAN COX Born: Aug 1, 1981 Debut: 2001 No: 20 Games: 218 DANIEL KERR Born: May 16, 1983 Debut: 2001 No: 34, 4 Games: 181 DON PYKE Born: Dec 5, 1968 Debut: 1989 No: 1, 10 Games: 132 PETER SUMICH Born: Jan 11, 1968 Debut: 1989 No: 4 Games: 150 CHRIS JUDD Born: Sept 8, 1983 Debut: 2002 No: 3 Games: 134 ANDREW EMBLEY Born: June 27, 1981 Debut: 1999 No: 32 Games: 222 TONY EVANS Born: June 14, 1969 Debut: 1991 No: 40, 18 Games: 108 MARK LeCRAS Born: Aug 30, 1986 Debut: 2005 No: 19, 2 Games: 91 BEN COUSINS Born: June 30, 1978 Debut: 1996 No: 9 Games: 238 *For current players, games played before round 19, YEARS ALL-STAR TEAM B: Drew Banfield Darren Glass Ashley McIntosh HB: Guy McKenna Glen Jakovich John Worsfold C: Peter Matera Dean Kemp Chris Mainwaring HF: Brett Heady Mitchell White Chris Lewis F: Phil Matera Peter Sumich Mark LeCras Ruck: Dean Cox, Chris Judd, Ben Cousins Interchange: Daniel Kerr, Andrew Embley, Don Pyke, Tony Evans 20 YEARS ALL-STAR TEAM B: Drew Banfield Michael Brennan Ashley McIntosh HB: Guy McKenna Glen Jakovich John Worsfold C: Peter Matera Dean Kemp Chris Mainwaring HF: Brett Heady Mitchell White Chris Lewis F: Phil Matera Peter Sumich Michael Gardiner Ruck: Dean Cox, Chris Judd, Ben Cousins Interchange: Don Pyke, Tony Evans, Dwayne Lamb, Chris Waterman

14 25 YEARS STRONG The Weekend West August 6, 2011 Know the score: Ross Glendinning carved his reputation as a key defender for North Melbourne but was leading goal kicker in his two seasons as skipper of West Coast reasons to light the candles It hasn t been all beer and skittles for West Coast over 25 years but the highlights kept coming WORDS: RAY WILSON AND MARK DUFFIELD Ben Cousins in a classical pose as Daniel Chick checks his progress. Chris Mainwaring and Ross Glendinning in 1987, West Coast s first season. Wally Matera booted four goals 1 after West Coast came from 33 points down at three-quarter time to beat Richmond by 14 points in the first game on March 29, Ross Glendinning s commanding 2 performance against Footscray in 1987 at the WACA when he booted 7.5 to lift the Eagles to victory. Chris Mainwaring was best 3 afield on Hawthorn legend Robert DiPierdomenico in one of West Coast s most famous victories against the Hawks on Anzac Day, Laurie Keene s 23-disposal effort 4 in the semifinal victory over Melbourne at Waverley Park in 1990 showed what might have been. Injuries cruelled what shaped as a magnificent career, with the ruckman-forward playing a total of only 36 games. Troy Ugle went from villain to 5 hero against St Kilda in round 15, 1990, when his opponent Craig Devonport helped the Saints to a 44-point first-term lead before the nuggety utility player moved forward and kicked six goals in a remarkable West Coast triumph. Peter Sumich kicked a point after 6 the siren to tie the scores and force a replay of the qualifying final against Collingwood at Waverley Park in Peter Sumich kicked 13.3 against Footscray in He finished the 1991 season with but Sumich was on target when he booted 13.3 against Footscray at the WACA in round 13. One Brownlow vote doesn t do 8 justice to the unstinting efforts of Michael Brennan who six times finished in the top 10 of the club best and fairest. Dean Kemp, Peter Matera and 9 Don Pyke starred in the 1992 elimination final against Hawthorn at Subiaco Oval a classic heavyweight clash which kept West Coast s premiership dream alive. Tony Evans booted two 10 opportunistic goals in the second half of the second term to trim Geelong s lead to only two goals at half-time of the 1992 grand final. Peter Matera twice kicked five 11 goals in a match. One was against Brisbane in 1995 but his more memorable haul was in 1992 when he set up West Coast s first premiership. 12 Glen Jakovich racked up 29 disposals and collected the three Brownlow votes in a masterful performance against Wayne Carey (14 touches) in round 21, 1994, at the WACA. In the first western derby in round 7, , the highly skilled and at times recklessly brave Brett Heady kicked five goals to earn best-afield honours as the Eagles sought to exert an authority on their young rivals. Chris Judd s star was already on 14 the rise but it became even brighter when he kicked five first-half goals against Brisbane at the Gabba in round 12, Daniel Kerr s four-bounce, 15 running goal of the year against Fremantle in round 22, Kerr polled two Brownlow votes in West Coast s loss. Ben Cousins became the second 16 Eagle to win the Brownlow Medal in 2005 after Judd s success the year before. Kerr polled 19 votes, just one behind Cousins. Ashley Sampi reached 17 stratospheric heights with his mark of the year in 2005 when he sat on the shoulders of teammate Andrew Embley before getting an extra lift from Adem Yze. Michael Braun, Cousins and 18 Kerr were the heroes in an upset 82-point victory over Adelaide at Subiaco Oval in The Eagles had 227 handballs and 208 kicks to dismantle the Crows who at that stage were eight points and 62 per cent clear on top of the ladder. Daniel Chick s smother on 19 Ryan O Keefe and subsequent handball to Adam Hunter set up a match-winning goal against Sydney in the 2006 grand final. Cousins amazing 38-possession 20 effort in his comeback against Sydney at Subiaco Oval in round 16, 2007 his first match since the 2006 grand final. 21 Dean Cox loves playing football but in 2008 he especially relished his assignments against Brisbane, when he collected a combined 65 disposals in two games. Nic Naitanui s three-goal last 22 quarter against Hawthorn on a dark and stormy night at Patersons Stadium in 2009 officially announced the arrival of a new star. With his head swathed in bandages, 23 Mark LeCras celebrated a 12-goal haul against Essendon at Etihad Stadium in Josh Kennedy was on a seek 24 and destroy mission against the Western Bulldogs at Patersons Stadium in round 9 this year when he booted 10 goals. Shannon Hurn kicks like a 25 mule and while he s normally finding targets from his defensive post he kicked a 65m goal in his debut against Brisbane in 2006, and one of his three majors against Port Adelaide this year travelled the same distance.

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16 25 YEARS STRONG The Weekend West August 6, 2011 Know the score: The SCG has not been a happy hunting ground for West Coast who have won only three games there from 16 starts. 16 WORDS: RAY WILSON An unsung hero WORDS: R It was a Rowan Jones moment. There were many throughout his 158-game career but this one was the most pertinent Few players committed as selflessly as Rowan Jones who was unsung on the terraces but West Coast s inner sanctum placed a premium on his performances. With 30 seconds remaining in the 2006 grand final, with the nerves of 97,431 people at the MCG in a mess, the Eagles led Sydney by a point. Daniel Kerr had the ball on the wing. Jones was patrolling through the centre but with the game so tight he didn t expect Kerr to direct the ball his way. But he did. Then, the combat began. The ball was running between Jones and Leo Barry who knew a thing or two about being a hero after his epic mark the previous year stopped West Coast in their tracks within seconds of the final siren. Had the Swans defender won the ball, he had the clear ground to take it forward and, at the very least, scramble a point to draw the game. Jones knew the enormity of the individual battle in this war of attrition. The Eagle gathered the ball after it spilt free following the chest-on collision with Barry. He shovelled it to Quinten Lynch who got it on to Beau Waters. Seconds later it was out of bounds, and on the throw-in the siren sounded. I d be lying if I didn t say after that game that I was glad to be part of that play, Jones said. I thought it was reasonably significant but nothing really got made of it after the game. Once I retired, a lot more people have brought it up. It s nice, and flattering in a way. Without big noting myself, it was something I could hang my hat on. It typified my whole career in a way. I was never a flashy player. It was just a matter of doing things for the team, things that went unnoticed. Jones, an investment advisor with Entrust Private Wealth, often has been praised by Chris Judd because of the way he rode shotgun over West Coast s vaunted midfield. He blocked and hindered the progress of opposition taggers and hunters hell-bent on burying the likes of Judd, Ben Cousins and Kerr. Given our midfield, everybody had to have a role, Jones said. A few of us, Daniel Chick, Tyson Stenglein and I, were predominantly there to block and create space because you play to your strengths and we had to be smart enough to understand our role was to do the team thing. Proud sponsors of The West Coast Eagles for over 20 years. MKT060811_910693

17 The Weekend West August 6, Know the score: Favourite son Chris Mainwaring finished in the top five of the club champion award five times and was a runner-up three times, but never won the trophy. 25 YEARS STRONG Stop right here. Rowan Jones clears the path for Chris Judd. Picture: Trevor Collens I m mates with Juddy, and given his stature in the game I m grateful for his comments. Jones retired as a 27-year-old at the end of the 2007 season to pursue a career in financial investment and planning. I retired for a combination of reasons but essentially because I wanted to start a new phase of my life, he said. My body was fine but in 07 I never really cemented a spot in the team and coming off the end off a successful era, there were a lot of young guys pushing up. I just think my time had come. I was really happy to play in a side which won a premiership and then go on and get life membership and in hindsight it was the best decision. HONOUR ROLL Year Club champion Best first-year player Best clubman Leading goal kicker 1987 Steve Malaxos Chris Mainwaring Glen Bartlett Ross Glendinning John Worsfold Guy McKenna Phil Scott Ross Glendinning Guy McKenna Peter Sumich Geoff Miles Peter Sumich Chris Lewis Dean Kemp Phil Scott Peter Sumich Craig Turley Glen Jakovich Chris Waterman Peter Sumich Dean Kemp Matt Clape David Hynes Peter Sumich Don Pyke-Jakovich Drew Banfield John Worsfold Peter Sumich Glen Jakovich Shane Bond Guy McKenna Peter Sumich Glen Jakovich Fraser Gehrig Michael Brennan Jason Ball Drew Banfield Andrew Donnelly Tony Evans Mitchell White Peter Matera Josh Wooden Chris Mainwaring Peter Sumich Ashley McIntosh Phillip Read John Worsfold Fraser Gehrig Guy McKenna Laurie Bellotti Dean Kemp Scott Cummings Glen Jakovich Darren Glass Phil Matera Phil Matera Ben Cousins Daniel Kerr Rowan Jones Troy Wilson Ben Cousins Chris Judd Drew Banfield Phil Matera Ben Cousins Ashley Sampi Michael Braun Phil Matera Chris Judd Mark Seaby Josh Wooden Phil Matera Ben Cousins Ashley Hansen Andrew Embley Phil Matera Chris Judd Jaymie Graham Dean Cox Quinten Lynch Darren Glass Matthew Priddis Ashley Hansen Quinten Lynch Dean Cox Ben McKinley Jaymie Graham Ben McKinley Darren Glass Chris Masten Beau Waters Mark LeCras Mark LeCras Nic Naitanui Mark Nicoski Mark LeCras 63 Proud Spon so r of the West Co ast Eagles www. w themor tgag agegal lery.com.au Building our futures together Perth Precast t e robert@perthprecast.com.au Premier Partner

18 Watch your savings soar to WIN lunch with a West Coast Eagle! We re offering West Coast Eagles fans 6.20% p.a. fixed for 9 months Take up this exclusive offer and you and seven of your mates could also be having lunch with one of the West Coast Eagles whilst enjoying one of the most spectacular views in Perth at the Bankwest Tower. As keen footy fans ourselves, we know how good that d be. For your chance to win, simply use the code word to open a new Gold Term Deposit at this special fixed rate. But hurry, offer ends 19 August 2011! Your code word is: EAGLES25 visit any store π Important things you should know: This product is issued by Bank of Western Australia Ltd ABN AFSL Any advice given is of a general nature only and is not based on any consideration of your objectives, financial situation or needs. The account requires a minimum deposit of $5,000. There is a $2,000,000 maximum investment limit per customer. You should consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and whether the product is right for you. A PDS is available from your local Bankwest store, from bankwest.com.au, or by calling This special rate of 6.20% p.a. fixed for 9 months is only available until 19 August Promotional Period 6/8/11 19/8/11. Draw Date 7/09/11. Winner will be contacted by phone and in writing within 4 days of Draw Date. Full terms and conditions available at bankwest.com.au HOST11-K2053

19 The Weekend West August 6, WORDS: CRAIG O DONOGHUE Know the score: Seven times Peter Sumich kicked more than eight goals in a match, with a career-high 13 against Footscray at the WACA Ground in YEARS STRONG Nine Eagles in right place at wrong time An unlucky group of Eagles played in losing grand finals, either 1991 or 2005, but never got the chance to taste the sweetest of all victories the following year Mark Nicoski could be an AFL legend. He could be as famous as St Kilda s Barry Breen, Sydney s Leo Barry, Carlton s Alex Jesaulenko or Collingwood s Ray Gabelich. He could be revered as a West Coast premiership player. But he s not. Instead, he s part of a small club comprising nine men who have played in losing grand finals for the Eagles and not gone on to taste the ultimate glory. Nicoski can remember parts of the 2005 grand final like it was yesterday. He started on the bench and kicked the first goal after receiving a handball from Chris Judd. But the one part which stands out is his perfect view of Barry taking the matchsaving mark. Nicoski was standing two metres away, perfectly positioned front and square ready for the crumbs and the chance to kick the match-winning goal with just four seconds remaining. Amon Buchanan, who I was playing on, flew, Nicoski recalled. I thought that s great because if it comes to ground I am first onto it. I was just at the front waiting for the ball to spill so I could pick it up and snap it. It wasn t meant to be. It was pretty shattering. I was pretty cut up afterwards. A football season is a marathon and you don t get many opportunities to play in a grand final. I thought it could have been my only chance. So far, it s turned out that it was. Nicoski s 2006 season came crashing down around him in round 14. The leftfooter broke his ankle against Hawthorn at the MCG and his immediate thoughts turned to September. He fought hard, against the odds, to be available for selection. Subiaco allowed him to play in their grand final despite Nicoski having no match fitness, but the Eagles coaches weren t prepared to take any risks. He watched the thrilling win in the MCG grandstand with a friend. I remember the siren going and I looked at him and said I ve got to go, Nicoski said. I bolted down the stairs to get to the ground. I ran on and it was a little bit hollow because I didn t play. But I went over to my good mate Fletchy (Chad Fletcher), tapped him on the shoulder and he was the first person I congratulated. He gave me a big hug and said they d try to win another one for me. That was a pretty special moment because he could see in my eyes that I was hurting. Michael Gardiner, Ashley Sampi, Travis Gaspar, Kasey Green and Brent Staker also played in the losing grand final and never got the chance to redeem themselves the following season. Gardiner has since played in one losing and one drawn grand final for St Kilda. Three grand finals, decided by a combined 16 points, and no premiership medal makes him desperately unlucky. The Eagles have played in two losing grand finals. The first, in 1991 against Hawthorn, wasn t as close as the Hawks won by 53 points. West Coast created history the following season and won their first premiership, but Andrew Lockyer, Scott Watters and Dean Irving didn t get a second chance. Lockyer started in defence in 1991 on Paul Dear, who won the Norm Smith Medal, and later moved into the ruck. A knee operation early in 1992 cost Lockyer his spot in the team and he never played another AFL match. Lockyer played in East Fremantle s premiership the week before the AFL grand final and saw the Eagles create history on television in Geraldton. There s a fair bit of disappointment that I never got the chance to win a grand final, Lockyer said. I ve never watched the losing one. I d have loved to have been a part of it. But I was rapt for the club and the players. There s a lot of great players who never got the chance to even play in a grand final, so I m glad I had that opportunity. Lockyer and Watters have gone on to enjoy premiership success with Collingwood in vastly different roles. Watters is a Magpies assistant coach while Lockyer works in recruiting from Perth. Mark Nicoski leads Nick Davis to the ball. Below: The agony of the 2005 grand final loss. Pictures: Getty Images Andrew Lockyer, centre, looks on as Peter Wilson tackles Dermott Brereton in the 1991 grand final. Picture: Greg Burke

20 25 YEARS STRONG The Weekend West August 6, 2011 Know the score: West Coast enjoyed a record winning streak of 12 games to open the 1991 season before falling to Carlton by three points at Princes Park. 20 The immortals 1992 B: Chris Waterman Ashley McIntosh Guy McKenna HB: Dwayne Lamb Glen Jakovich John Worsfold (c) C: Peter Matera Craig Turley Chris Mainwaring HF: Karl Langdon Michael Brennan Peter Wilson F: Tony Evans Peter Sumich Brett Heady Ruck: Paul Harding Dean Kemp Don Pyke Int: Chris Lewis Mitchell White Coach: Mick Malthouse WEST COAST (113) def GEELONG (85) 1994 B: Ashley McIntosh Michael Brennan David Hart HB: Guy McKenna Glen Jakovich John Worsfold (c) C: Chris Mainwaring Don Pyke Peter Matera HF: Brett Heady Jason Ball Peter Wilson F: Chris Lewis Peter Sumich Shane Bond Ruck: David Hynes Dean Kemp Tony Evans Int: Chris Waterman Drew Banfield Ryan Turnbull Coach: Mick Malthouse WEST COAST (143) def GELONG 8.15 (63) 2006 B: Beau Waters Darren Glass Daniel Chick HB: Adam Selwood Adam Hunter Brett Jones C: Chad Fletcher Chris Judd (c) Michael Braun HF: Rowan Jones Ashley Hansen Ben Cousins F: Andrew Embley Quinten Lynch David Wirrpanda Ruck: Dean Cox Tyson Stenglein Daniel Kerr Int: Mark Seaby Sam Butler Steven Armstrong Drew Banfield Coach: John Worsfold WEST COAST (85) def SYDNEY (84) Fan messages Big year for WA It was the first season the West Coast Eagles played in the VFL and the year I was born. As a result I am blue and gold through and through - my very extensive jumper collection and tattoo attest to that! I was there to watch them hold up the cup in 2006 and I will stick with my boys no matter what! Congratulations West Coast on 25 fantastic years, I look forward to the next 25! Peta - Nollamara. Congratulations Been a fan for 25 years through the successful years and not so good years, but take great pride on being a WCE fan. Good luck with the finals in Margaret McK GO EAGLES! Ray Glennon, head of Eagles fan club Ireland - once a Swan now an Eagle for life! It s been a long time coming! 25 Solid Years!! Congratulations on this awesome milestone. Player greats & Premierships have been produced. There s only one team in the West, Blue and Gold is all we bleed!! Lisa Deighton, Ellenbrook. THE MIGHTY WEST COAST EAGLES - members of the South Perth Whitehouse family since years of drama and delight. PROUDLY BLUE AND GOLD WELL DONE! Keep going up. Neil and Rene Henderson. WE RE THE EAGLES 25 years flying high Our fans know we always try, we make our opposition cry. Our history is very proud, the fans always cheer very loud. West Coast Eagles 25 years of pure Blue and Gold. We have really enjoyed the ride. Go The Mighty Eagles!!!! Hedley and Sue Harmer WEST COAST EAGLES Congratulations you have made us proud over the 25 years. Keep it up. From Shirley, Megan and Naomi Boddington, Stratton. Congratulates The West Coast Eagles On their 25th Anniversary πRSSH060811

21 The Weekend West August 6, Know the score: Dean Kemp and Ben Cousins shared the captaincy in 2001 while Peter Matera, Glen Jakovich and David Wirrpanda were vice-captains. 25 YEARS STRONG WORDS: RAY WILSON Great Scott fires for two big hauls Scott Cummings, centre, celebrates with teammates. Picture: Rod Taylor Literally and figuratively, Scott Cummings enjoyed a large profile at West Coast during his 46 games from 1999 to The wise-cracking full-forward was all business though in two games against Adelaide and Fremantle in 2000 when he kicked a combined 24 goals. Against Adelaide at the WACA Ground in round 4, Cummings, who came to West Coast via Essendon and Port Adelaide, booted 14.1 on a night Crows defenders Scott Stevens, Ken McGregor, Nigel Smart and Ben Hart failed to rein in the rampant Eagle. His haul remains the goal-kicking record for the club but Cummings acknowledged that he was on the receiving end of a brilliant production line fed by the likes of Ben Cousins, Michael Braun and Peter Matera while Michael Gardiner was a dominant force in the ruck. I had six at half-time and got another five in the third quarter, Cummings recalled. I remember Cuzzy putting a few through my sternum and Brauny and Roo (Matera) just kept putting it lace out in the spot for me. Two weeks later, Cummings was best afield when West Coast annihilated Fremantle by 117 points, but he was quick to put on record his effort in the match following the clash against Adelaide. Don t forget I backed up that 14-goal haul beautifully with one goal at Skilled Stadium the next week, he joked. In a remarkable coincidence, while Cummings polled top Brownlow Medal votes against the Crows and Dockers, David Wirrpanda received two votes in each match and Cousins was awarded one vote in both games. While Cummings, who won the Coleman Medal in 1999 with 88 goals (95 including finals), cherishes the memories of both games, his personal favourite is the first qualifying final against Footscray at the MCG on September 3 that year. It s my favourite game of all time because I was playing my 100th, it was my first final, it was at the Gee and it was played in real tough conditions, Cummings said. It went right down to the wire (West Coast won by five points) and I managed to kick a few goals when it mattered, said Cummings who booted four goals. He was angry after being de-listed at the end of the 2001 season but it was now absolutely water under the bridge and he harboured no grudges. I played my best football at West Coast and I will always hold good memories about my involvement there, he said. Cummings remained in Melbourne after his stint with Collingwood and has various media roles but his primary employment is as business development manager in Victoria and WA for structural engineering company Robert Bird Group. And while he s been in Melbourne for more than a decade, Cummings remains a committed West Australian and is still on the board of the Swan Districts Football Club. I m a staunch West Aussie and I fly the flag pretty heavily over here, much to my detriment at times, he said. CUMMINGS RECORD Year Club Games Goals Essendon Port Adelaide West Coast Collingwood 5 6 Helping the West Coast Eagles soar in their 25th year and beyond We d like to thank the West Coast Eagles for helping make us West Australians proud over the last 25 years. And while we ve only begun our partnership, we re looking forward to kicking plenty of goals with them, and you, in the future. To find out what else we re doing across our home state, visit WA4EVER.com Bank of Western Australia Ltd ABN AFSL HOST11-K2054

22 25 YEARS STRONG The Weekend West August 6, 2011 Know the score: Richard Colless, West Coast s first chairman in 1987, has held the same position at the Sydney Swans since Every player who has ever played Scott Bennett 1 Zach Beeck 1 Shane Cable 1 Kevin Caton 1 Ian Dargie 1 Paul Johnson 1 Sean King 1 Paul Mifka 1 Glenn O Loughlin 1 Corey Young 1 Gerrick Weedon *1 Trent Cummings 2 Peter Davidson 2 Richard Geary 2 Derek Hall 2 Jordan Jones *2 Dale Kickett 2 Daniel McConnell 2 Michael O Brien 2 Tony Notte 2 David Antonowicz 3 Matt Connell 3 Jason Heatley 3 Brendon Retzlaff 3 Shane Sikora 3 Brent Tuckey 3 Glen Bartlett 4 Darren Bennett 4 Clinton Browning 4 Aaron Edwards 4 Brad Gwilliam 4 Damian Hampson 4 Peter Higgins 4 Neil Marshall 4 Trent Nichols 4 Michael Dunstan 5 Peter Melesso 6 Koby Stevens *7 Adam Cockie 7 Todd Holmes 7 Chad Jones 7 Callum Wilson *7 Andrew Gaff *8 Tony Begovich 9 Bradd Dalziell *9 Greg Harding 9 Brendan Krummel 9 Michael Prior 9 Ashley Blurton 10 Joe Cormack 10 Shane Ellis 10 David Sierakowski 10 Lewis Stevenson *10 Andrew Strijk *11 Ashton Hams *12 Mitch Morton 12 Tony Godden 13 Mark Hepburn 13 Brent Hutton 13 Robbie West 13 Ryan Davis 14 Jaxon Crabb 15 Tim Houlihan *15 Craig McGrath 15 Jack Darling *16 Kane Munro 18 Phil Narkle 18 Robert Wiley 18 Jamie McNamara 19 Ashley Smith *20 Ian Downsborough 20 Andrew Macnish 20 Michael O Connell 20 Brad Sheppard *20 Brett Spinks 21 Luke Shuey *22 Jeremy Humm 22 Todd Breman 23 Ilija Grgic 23 Don Holmes 23 Beau Wilkes 23 Laurie Bellotti 24 Wally Matera 24 Brayden Lyle 26 Mark Merenda 26 Matthew Spangher 26 David O Connell 27 Tom Swift *27 Travis Gaspar 28 Richard Taylor 28 Matt Clape 29 Murray Wrensted 29 John Gastev 30 Alex Ishchenko 30 Damien Adkins 32 Brendon Fewster 33 Nick Stone 33 Shane Bond 34 Patrick McGinnity *35 Steven Armstrong 36 Laurie Keene 36 Mark Zanotti 36 Jaymie Graham 37 Troy Wilson 37 Stevan Jackson 38 Andrew McDougall 38 Chad Rintoul 39 Ross Glendinning 40 Mitch Brown *41 Paul Harding 43 Dean Irving 43 Andy Lovell 43 Troy Ugle 43 Trent Carroll 45 Scott Cummings 46 David Haynes 46 Ben McKinley 46 Scott Watters 46 Nic Naitanui *47 Adrian Barich 47 Chris Masten *47 Eric Mackenzie *49 Will Schofield *50 Michael Collica 50 Dean Laidley 52 Callum Chambers 54 Kasey Green 54 Paul Peos 55 Dean Turner 56 Murray Rance 57 John Annear 58 Scott Selwood *59 Josh Kennedy *61 Jarrad Schofield 63 Steve Malaxos 66 Phil Scott 66 Andrew Donnelly 68 Brad Ebert *69 Geoff Miles 71 David Hynes 73 Phillip Read 74 Sam Butler *75 Ashley Hansen 78 Andrew Lockyer 78 Ashley Sampi 78 Andrew Williams 84 Beau Waters *86 Shannon Hurn *89 Mark LeCras *91 Josh Wooden 96 Matthew Priddis *99 Paul Symmons 99 Karl Langdon 100 Brett Jones *102 Mark Seaby 102 Tyson Stenglein 102 Mark Nicoski *103 Jason Ball 103 Daniel Chick 103 Matt Rosa *106 Tony Evans 108 Daniel Metropolis 108 Brent Staker 110 Fraser Gehrig 115 Craig Turley 115 Peter Wilson 117 Michael Gardiner 129 Ryan Turnbull 129 Don Pyke 132 Chris Judd 134 Chad Morrison 148 Adam Selwood *149 Peter Sumich 150 Adam Hunter 151 Dwayne Lamb 151 Mitchell White 151 Brett Heady 156 Rowan Jones 158 Chris Waterman 177 Quinten Lynch *179 Michael Brennan 179 Chad Fletcher 179 Phil Matera 179 Daniel Kerr *181 David Hart 184 Chris Mainwaring 201 John Worsfold 209 Darren Glass *212 Chris Lewis 215 Dean Cox *218 Andrew Embley *222 David Wirrpanda 227 Michael Braun 228 Ben Cousins 238 Ashley McIntosh 242 Dean Kemp 243 Peter Matera 253 Drew Banfield 265 Guy McKenna 267 Glen Jakovich 276 * For current players, games played before round 19, 2011 FOR THE RECORD Games played: 580 Won: 316 Lost: 259 Drawn: 5 Winning percentage: 54.5 * before round 19, 2011 Finals Played: 38 Won: 17 Lost: 20 Drawn: 1 Brownlow medallists 2004 Chris Judd 30 votes 2005 Ben Cousins 20 Most games as coach 243 Mick Malthouse 226 John Worsfold 45 John Todd 44 Ken Judge 22 Ron Alexander * before round 19, 2011 Most goals 514 Peter Sumich 389 Phillip Matera 259 Chris Lewis 237 Brett Heady 236 Quinten Lynch 217 Peter Matera 205 Ben Cousins * before round 19, 2011 Energy Management Made Easy. LYNX primary focus is on Design bringing engineering and functionality together with innovative equipment and flexible solutions, and giving the client Monitoring, Control, Energy Savings and Emotional functionality.»»»»»»» Lighting Control Building Automation Energy Management Communication Service & Maintenance Exit & Emergency Monitoring Systems Metering T: F: (08) E: sales@lynxis.com.au

23 L8:%&'%%,&&9F FLYING HIGH '&%³ 1SZSP`ObW\U %^ZOgS`a#&UO[Sa³ #gso`a³ #U`SObSab^ZOgS`a³ #PSab[ObQVSa³]\SP]]Y Remember the past 25 years with this in-depth behind-the-scenes book, written by West Coast Eagles Gary Stocks, which details every player, every game, and highlights the 25 greatest players and most significant matches in our club s history to date. Pre-order your book at the West Coast Eagles Team Store or at eqsbso[ab]`sq][oc. More information on purchase details at esabq]oabsouzsaq][ocàgw\uvwuv. *RRP $ Special pre-order price of $29.95 available until November 18, Pre-ordered books available to collect from the West Coast Eagles Team Store from November 23, 2011 or posted out (additional $10.00 postage & handling charge). The official launch date of FLYING HIGH is November 26, SPECIAL >@3=@23@>@713 ' '# * c\bwz<]d& SAVE $10 SfQZ>6 GET IN QUICK! First 100 copies ordered signed by John Worsfold

24 Behind every kick, every Eagle, every fan for 25 years. Through good times and bad, we ve been behind West Australians for over 80 years, and behind the West Coast Eagles since day one Local office sgio.com.au