Mega Thread WCE: When is the first win? How do we fix this mess? Can we see any improvement at all?

[Balls In]

I'm in the same position as Phil when it comes to this rebuild — it simply can't be done from where our list is at, given how the draft is structured. As a WA team, we're at a major disadvantage having to recruit almost entirely from interstate, while players can easily return home after completing their initial contracts. It's no coincidence that Fremantle, after 30 years in the league, still haven’t secured a premiership, and West Coast is now fielding arguably the worst side I've ever seen.

While we've made mistakes, a huge part of our current position stems from the way the AFL has been set up — a system full of embedded biases that work against us. The draft process is already flawed, but then you add the same soft cap for all clubs, despite the vastly different challenges we face. Our inability to part ways with Adam Simpson due to soft cap constraints has been disastrous. And then there's the fixture — the blatant bias in scheduling, and the league’s refusal to properly address the travel toll WA teams endure year after year.

The data is there now — we know the long-term effects that relentless travel has on WA players. Put yourself in their shoes: would you stay in WA for the same pay, knowing it could shorten your career by two to three years?

Talent across the AFL is already stretched thin. With the draft system in place, it’s nearly impossible to build a list from rock bottom up to a group of 25+ AFL-standard players. The draft actively punishes WA clubs, who provide more draftees to the league than they retain. As a result, we’re left with a list that simply isn’t AFL quality.

WA football is in real trouble — and unless these structural disadvantages are addressed, there’s no clear path forward

 

[Westend]

I'm in the same position as Phil when it comes to this rebuild — it simply can't be done from where our list is at, given how the draft is structured. As a WA team, we're at a major disadvantage having to recruit almost entirely from interstate, while players can easily return home after completing their initial contracts. It's no coincidence that Fremantle, after 30 years in the league, still haven’t secured a premiership, and West Coast is now fielding arguably the worst side I've ever seen.

While we've made mistakes, a huge part of our current position stems from the way the AFL has been set up — a system full of embedded biases that work against us. The draft process is already flawed, but then you add the same soft cap for all clubs, despite the vastly different challenges we face. Our inability to part ways with Adam Simpson due to soft cap constraints has been disastrous. And then there's the fixture — the blatant bias in scheduling, and the league’s refusal to properly address the travel toll WA teams endure year after year.

The data is there now — we know the long-term effects that relentless travel has on WA players. Put yourself in their shoes: would you stay in WA for the same pay, knowing it could shorten your career by two to three years?

Talent across the AFL is already stretched thin. With the draft system in place, it’s nearly impossible to build a list from rock bottom up to a group of 25+ AFL-standard players. The draft actively punishes WA clubs, who provide more draftees to the league than they retain. As a result, we’re left with a list that simply isn’t AFL quality.

WA football is in real trouble — and unless these structural disadvantages are addressed, there’s no clear path forward

Good post but what happens now .. just keep going down the same path ?

If travel is the biggest issue has the club and are the players willing to spend a few weeks over east in a hub to reduce the travel load ? . We saw the hub last time and it screwed us

What do we do ?

 

[lusheslewis]

Good post but what happens now .. just keep going down the same path ?

If travel is the biggest issue has the club and are the players willing to spend a few weeks over east in a hub to reduce the travel load ? . We saw the hub last time and it screwed us

What do we do ?

We could do consecutive games in Melbourne twice a year, that's two less trips. Buy a home game every year, that's three.

Gather Round can f** off, we should play a derby that week and just not participate, it's too much travel. That would save us a trip once every two years.

 

[Balls In]

Good post but what happens now .. just keep going down the same path ?

If travel is the biggest issue has the club and are the players willing to spend a few weeks over east in a hub to reduce the travel load ? . We saw the hub last time and it screwed us

What do we do ?

The AFL has no interest in addressing the structural disadvantages WA clubs face as long as Optus sells out week in week out and WA’s development pathways keep sending elite talent over east.

I've said for a long time: the best thing supporters can do is stop turning up. That’s the only real leverage we have. People might not like it, but the AFL won’t lift a finger until the rivers of gold flowing west to east begin to dry up.

If the league were serious about fairness, we’d already have:

• Soft cap increase to offset the cost of constant interstate travel and staff burden.
• Retention bonuses or list concessions to help WA clubs keep the talent they develop.
• A fairer fixture that considers the travel burden.
• Reintroduction of WA zone based recruitment pathways, just like the northern clubs have enjoyed for years throughtheir academies.

None of that has happened and, it won’t ass long as the money and players keep pumping out. Don't forget that if WA is allowed to keep more of its own treasure it means less for their preferred children. Until the league feels pressure — through empty seats, lost revenue, and public accountability — nothing will change.

 

[Spange]

I like the rant, it’s a good rant. We have so many headwinds that are not equalised whilst AFLs golden child’s are spoiled.

What are the expected results of the Nullarbor headwind - a slower rebuild time than previously expected, player careers reduced, and eventually a club that will shrink in power as supporters grow tired of the losses.

That said expect to beat the tigers by 32 points even though we lose contested possessions by 15


Somebody talk me down from the ledge

 

[WCE_phil]

The AFL wants the Dockers and Eagles to continue to fail for a very specific reason. They want control over all club licences and control over the state and junior leagues as well.

I think you'd be surprised just how much the AFL would be willing to compromise to help the WA clubs if the WAFC ceded control of WA footy and handed over the AFL club licences.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

I'm in the same position as Phil when it comes to this rebuild — it simply can't be done from where our list is at, given how the draft is structured. As a WA team, we're at a major disadvantage having to recruit almost entirely from interstate, while players can easily return home after completing their initial contracts. It's no coincidence that Fremantle, after 30 years in the league, still haven’t secured a premiership, and West Coast is now fielding arguably the worst side I've ever seen.

While we've made mistakes, a huge part of our current position stems from the way the AFL has been set up — a system full of embedded biases that work against us. The draft process is already flawed, but then you add the same soft cap for all clubs, despite the vastly different challenges we face. Our inability to part ways with Adam Simpson due to soft cap constraints has been disastrous. And then there's the fixture — the blatant bias in scheduling, and the league’s refusal to properly address the travel toll WA teams endure year after year.

The data is there now — we know the long-term effects that relentless travel has on WA players. Put yourself in their shoes: would you stay in WA for the same pay, knowing it could shorten your career by two to three years?

Talent across the AFL is already stretched thin. With the draft system in place, it’s nearly impossible to build a list from rock bottom up to a group of 25+ AFL-standard players. The draft actively punishes WA clubs, who provide more draftees to the league than they retain. As a result, we’re left with a list that simply isn’t AFL quality.

WA football is in real trouble — and unless these structural disadvantages are addressed, there’s no clear path forward

While I don't disagree that as a WA team we face certain challenges, I don't buy into the whole "the AFL has stacked everything against us" mentality.

• Being stuck with Adam Simpsons contract was our fault.
• How many WCE players have returned home after completing their initial contract? I don't recall a single Eagle, in the history of our club, leaving after their first contract.
• Travel is what it is, can't blame the AFL for geography. Extra home games isn't a realistinc solution, it addresses our inequalities by creating new ones for other clubs. Have the Eagles ever asked for a double header away?
• All clubs face the same thin talent pool. We're not alone in this and the draft doesn't hinder us anymore than any other club (save the NSW and QLD clubs with their NGA free kicks).

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

The AFL wants the Dockers and Eagles to continue to fail for a very specific reason. They want control over all club licences and control over the state and junior leagues as well.

I think you'd be surprised just how much the AFL would be willing to compromise to help the WA clubs if the WAFC ceded control of WA footy and handed over the AFL club licences.

Can you explain what you mean?

AFL licenses are issued by the AFL, and held by different entities for each club. For the WA clubs, these licenses are held by the WAFC. Vic clubs are independent and club is controlled by voting members.

I think only GC and GWS are owned by the AFL.

What am I misunderstanding?
Is the AFL solely trying to take over the WA club licenses while leaving the Vic & SA clubs as well a Brisbane and Sydney in peace?

 

[Free Agent]

The AFL wants the Dockers and Eagles to continue to fail for a very specific reason. They want control over all club licences and control over the state and junior leagues as well.

I think you'd be surprised just how much the AFL would be willing to compromise to help the WA clubs if the WAFC ceded control of WA footy and handed over the AFL club licences.

F**K it then let them control it. I'm sick of being so crap and disadvantaged. Will the AFL help us like a Queensland side if we said yes. Geez if that's all it took sign the papers and let's start cooking again.

 

[WeaponX]

I have the solution, everyone stop going to the home games at Optus to send a message to the AFL because if any club is in a better financial position to bear the brunt of a home game crowd wipeout I will go heave. This way the AFL is pressured into acting on how West Australia Teams is at a massive disadvantage and concessions will come flowing our way to help us out of this quagmire. 2 Priority picks and academy players can be matched before pick 40 is a good starting point.

 

[Scotland]

IMO the turning point will be Harley Reid re-signing or requesting a trade.

 

[ducksneagles]

I think there is just a little bit too much catastrophising in this thread. Suddenly we’re not going to win another game for the foreseeable future. Or until the AFL steps back from some nefarious plan to cripple us.

As supporters we have enjoyed a pretty charmed run in our 37 years. We have had a few low points (think the decline in the last few Malthouse years, immediate post Woosha, and now this), but a lot more highs. And all those highs with exactly the same travel issues etc that we have now. It’s not ideal, but it’s not the end of the world.

We have now had 6 pretty crap years. The first two were COVID, which everyone admits we didn’t handle well. In hindsight we were always going to be hard hit with a list dominated by married players with kids, but we could have, and should have, handled it better. Then two years with the worst injury crisis in my memory – I can’t think of any other side in VFL/AFL history that copped anything like that. We effectively lost 4 years of play from our senior players as they entered the prime of their career. Not really surprising that we now have a list with an out-of-balance age profile.

So we have really only had two years back in control to start to fix things. I think our 2023 and 2024 drafts have been crackers. We have an AFL team that holds it together for 3 quarters of a game then loses it for a quarter – not unusual for young rebuilding teams. We have a WAFL side where our best players are now routinely our young AFL listers.

And we are implementing a new game plan that has a chance of making us competitive in modern footy. Yes it isn’t easy, but anyone that saw vision of last weekends WAFL could see it starting to gel with our young players.

So spare me the doom and gloom. If we’re still on the bottom in 5 or 6 years come back and have a go at me, but in the meantime try and enjoy the ride to the next high point. It’s great to be on top, but for me the most exciting footy has always been when we are on the way up.

 

[WA footy mad]

its easy to fix the travel issues
week 1 wce home
week 2 wce & freo home
week 3 freo home
week 4 freo & wce home
and so on

 

[WA footy mad]

I think there is just a little bit too much catastrophising in this thread. Suddenly we’re not going to win another game for the foreseeable future. Or until the AFL steps back from some nefarious plan to cripple us.

As supporters we have enjoyed a pretty charmed run in our 37 years. We have had a few low points (think the decline in the last few Malthouse years, immediate post Woosha, and now this), but a lot more highs. And all those highs with exactly the same travel issues etc that we have now. It’s not ideal, but it’s not the end of the world.

We have now had 6 pretty crap years. The first two were COVID, which everyone admits we didn’t handle well. In hindsight we were always going to be hard hit with a list dominated by married players with kids, but we could have, and should have, handled it better. Then two years with the worst injury crisis in my memory – I can’t think of any other side in VFL/AFL history that copped anything like that. We effectively lost 4 years of play from our senior players as they entered the prime of their career. Not really surprising that we now have a list with an out-of-balance age profile.

So we have really only had two years back in control to start to fix things. I think our 2023 and 2024 drafts have been crackers. We have an AFL team that holds it together for 3 quarters of a game then loses it for a quarter – not unusual for young rebuilding teams. We have a WAFL side where our best players are now routinely our young AFL listers.

And we are implementing a new game plan that has a chance of making us competitive in modern footy. Yes it isn’t easy, but anyone that saw vision of last weekends WAFL could see it starting to gel with our young players.

So spare me the doom and gloom. If we’re still on the bottom in 5 or 6 years come back and have a go at me, but in the meantime try and enjoy the ride to the next high point. It’s great to be on top, but for me the most exciting footy has always been when we are on the way up.

I have loved watching the young players come thru, who cares if we are getting beaten it will turn around. But the injection of youth has made it it more enjoyable to watch.

 

[WA footy mad]

its easy to fix the travel issues
week 1 wce home
week 2 wce & freo home
week 3 freo home
week 4 freo & wce home
and so on

It wont happen its like giving the grand final rights to the MCG for 50 years

 

[Bender_]

its easy to fix the travel issues
week 1 wce home
week 2 wce & freo home
week 3 freo home
week 4 freo & wce home
and so on

It wont happen its like giving the grand final rights to the MCG for 50 years

You're supposed to change accounts before quoting yourself mate.

 

[southcoast]

Good post but what happens now .. just keep going down the same path ?

If travel is the biggest issue has the club and are the players willing to spend a few weeks over east in a hub to reduce the travel load ? . We saw the hub last time and it screwed us

What do we do ?

I hear what you're saying but wasn't the recent leaders/club 'intervention in part about being away from home for 10 (?) days with Gather Round fixturing. Not sure where I read that but if true then your solution may not be fully palatable to all and sundry on the list.

 

[Astro7]

So spare me the doom and gloom. If we’re still on the bottom in 5 or 6 years come back and have a go at me, but in the meantime try and enjoy the ride to the next high point. It’s great to be on top, but for me the most exciting footy has always been when we are on the way up.

Enjoyed the positive outpouring!
But of course there is no way we'll STILL be on the bottom in 5-6 years? That means 9 years on the bottom? Even if we were that bad, there would've been a major intervention before then, an inquisition...?

Although having said that, this is our 4th year on the bottom.
North Melbourne have been on the bottom (and still are at this point) for 5 years, this is their 6th year!
On the subject of North, what has the AFL done to help them? (lots of good draft picks) And why do we cop so much flak for being a bottom rebuilding team (because we're a wealthy W.A.club with one of the largest memberships) did North cop the same flak? (if not, because they're a lowly Vic club and deserve help and sympathy?)

 

[Westend]

I hear what you're saying but wasn't the recent leaders/club 'intervention in part about being away from home for 10 (?) days with Gather Round fixturing. Not sure where I read that but if true then your solution may not be fully palatable to all and sundry on the list.

I think we all agree that travel and tyranny of distance is the biggest challenge facing the club and players. With gather round atm and Tassie coming on board in the next few years its going to get worse.

How can we reduce that...buying homes game is a start but its not a long term solution financially.

Really think the club should consider road trips of 2 games max playing away and to stay in location to reduce the travel load. Then to be compensated by the AFL by having 2 games at home The club is rich enough to put into play training facilities and support for the players...If the players don't like it...well suck it up...they get paid well and are professional athletes.

Look at the modern cricketer theses days...away tours IPL plus county in the offseason some are away up to date 7-8 months of the years at times...yes they get compensated well but they still do it and still perform.

 

[EagleEgo]

Is 10-game losing streak a record?

 

[swingdog]

Buy. Our. Own. ****ing. Plane.

 

[hudson2006]

Is 10-game losing streak a record?

We lost 16 in a row in 2023, which included our worst ever thumping against Sydney.

Feels like we’re not quite as bad as 2023 due to the margins being somewhat respectable… so far.

 

[WeaponX]

We lost 16 in a row in 2023, which included our worst ever thumping against Sydney.

Feels like we’re not quite as bad as 2023 due to the margins being somewhat respectable… so far.

We are marginally better but the rot is still there, it all starts with the centre bounce and clearance which we have to be the worst of all time. Get a dominant Ruck and things will change quickly I think.

 

[Cuzz09]

The way I'm seeing it the last few weeks we're just being let down in 1 patch.

We can now stay with teams for 2 and a half to 3 qtrs but the 1 bad qtr we are getting dominated.

Guess that's a fitness and availability thing too.

Improvement from last couple years but the centre stats are looking damning.

 

[Cuzz09]

v Melb

the 3rd qtr melb kicked 7.5 to 2.0

but the rest of the game was about 9 goals each.

Just struggling to stop momentum which is understandable when you can get the ball.

some signs though