How good were West Coast in 1992 when they won the flag?

[PowerfulPies2023]

Beat ladder topping Geelong the last 3 times they met including one at Kardinia Park when they were top and twice in the finals at The G by 38 and 28 points. Beat the reigning champs Hawks out at Waverley after trailing by 4 goals at qtr time. Geelong were the highest scoring team in history that season. A record then beaten by themselves in 2011 I believe. Sumich kicked 82 goals that year after snaring 111 the year before. The first ever side to snatch the premiership cup away from Victoria.

Matera, Worsfold, Mckenna, Jakovich, Mainwaring, Sumich, Lewis, evans, Kemp, McIntosh, Heady just some of the great names. Is this side up there with the All time greats like Essendon 2000, Brisbane and Geelongs and Hawks during their golden years? Or are they just a shade below?

 

[NetworkNerd]

Bit like the 09 cats. Talented side full of all time greats and was 3+ games clear on top and 160%+ percentage the year before yet lost the unlosable grand final to the Hawks.

So in 1992 they were talented and angry.. a dangerous mix!

 

[RedWhite4Ever]

They were good - but I thought that the 1994 side was a far better, superior outfit.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

They were good - but I thought that the 1994 side was a far better, superior outfit.

Interesting. Half a game more they gained that year as opposed to 1992. Barely beat us in Perth in the first week of the finals then smashed Melbourne and Geelong by 65 and 80 points. In 1992 I think WCE slow start was due to injuries. Belted by the Saints and Bulldogs late on. I'm 94 they suffered beatings home and away to Hawthorn and Carlton by 11 goals at Princess Park.

I kind of disagree because I think the calibre of opponents in the 92 finals were better than in 94. Hawks were a very good 6th placed team as the reigning premiers and gave wce a grand final In an elimination final Narrowly losing late on. Geelong as mentioned were a force. Who knows. You would have seen more than me. I reckon in 92 they were more battle hardened.

Both very good sides.

 

[TheGhostOfJohnBelushi]

Bit like the 09 cats. Talented side full of all time greats and was 3+ games clear on top and 160%+ percentage the year before yet lost the unlosable grand final to the Hawks.

So in 1992 they were talented and angry.. a dangerous mix!

Qualifying Final was the one. By the time we made the grand final, we were outta juice.

1992 was actually a very fortunate set of circumstances. Had a shocking start to the season then went on a pattern of 4 wins then a loss from about round 7 onwards. And some of those losses were horrendous wet weather football from us (vs Saints and Dogs in particular).

The fortune came with the finals setup. 1 v 2 Qualifying Final and two elimination finals with 3 v 6 and 4 v 5. This was changed after the previous year's finals had 3 v 4 and 5 v 6 elimination finals. Eagles finished 4th and got to host a home final vs Hawthorn and because St Kilda (6) beat Collingwood (3) the winner would go to the double chance 2nd Semi Final (where the winner goes straight to the grand final, loser goes to the prelim final). Eagles won (Hawks had jumped to a 4 goal start that took most of the game to reel back) and then went on their way and dominated the Cats in the 2nd Semi and got a crucial week off to rest some key players for the grand final. Proved crucial as the Cats jumped us in the GF and had to be reeled back. Ran over the top of them in the second half.

They were steeled by their 1991 performance for sure, but also needed just a few cards to fall into place as well. Made the most of it!

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Qualifying Final was the one. By the time we made the grand final, we were outta juice.

1992 was actually a very fortunate set of circumstances. Had a shocking start to the season then went on a pattern of 4 wins then a loss from about round 7 onwards. And some of those losses were horrendous wet weather football from us (vs Saints and Dogs in particular).

The fortune came with the finals setup. 1 v 2 Qualifying Final and two elimination finals with 3 v 6 and 4 v 5. This was changed after the previous year's finals had 3 v 4 and 5 v 6 elimination finals. Eagles finished 4th and got to host a home final vs Hawthorn and because St Kilda (6) beat Collingwood (3) the winner would go to the double chance 2nd Semi Final (where the winner goes straight to the grand final, loser goes to the prelim final). Eagles won (Hawks had jumped to a 4 goal start that took most of the game to reel back) and then went on their way and dominated the Cats in the 2nd Semi and got a crucial week off to rest some key players for the grand final. Proved crucial as the Cats jumped us in the GF and had to be reeled back. Ran over the top of them in the second half.

They were steeled by their 1991 performance for sure, but also needed just a few cards to fall into place as well. Made the most of it!

Yep. Also maybe if the Cats got one more and out to a 34 point lead it may have been the end. 40 points and I definitely think it's game over. But you guys were good.

28 points down in 92 and 2018 yet you won. Strong.

 

[PCORF]

They overcame heartbreak in 1988, 1990 and 1991 and learnt from it in 1992. They have since won 4 flags.

 

[GC2015]

Must have been pretty good to have 14 players from their list included in the 1991 WA state team and 13 players from their list included in the 1992 WA state team.

• 1991 - 14 (Heady, Jakovich, Kemp, Lamb, Langdon, Mainwaring, Matera, McIntosh, McKenna, Pyke, Sumich, Turley, Waterman, Watters)
• 1992 - 13 (Hepburn, Jakovich, Kemp, Lamb, Langdon, Lewis, Mainwaring, Matera, McIntosh, Waterman, Watters, Wilson, Worsfold)

 

[luciien]

Probably the best defence I have ever seen with Jakovich, McKenna, McIntosh, Worsfold, Hart and Waterman through 92 and 94. Probably only Geelong 07-11 comes close.

Watching Matera and Mainwaring patrolling the wings was a thing of beauty.

 

[Tall poppy Syndrome]

They were really really good over 4-5 years and certainly deserved the 92 flag. But I thought they were actually better in 94 (primed and hardened) and much of 91.

In mid 91 West Coast were as far ahead of the rest of the competition as it’s possible for a team to be. It took an unbelievable effort, the last gasp of a Hawthorn dynasty team, to deny them that year. As others have already said it was the qualifying final in Perth, the first ever interstate, that turned the finals series on its head.

 

[DidakDelight]

Collingwood, Geelong and West Coast were the best three sides. Dogs on similar wins were slightly below IMO.

Hawks were the danger side but needed a Melbourne final to set their flag repeat up.

Collingwood beat WC, GEE and Dogs in the H&A but were beaten well by their nemesis The Hawks

One of the most open seasons of the 90s.
If the top 8 system was in I don’t think the Eagles would have won it. Especially with an obligatory prelim in Melbourne back then.

 

[PerthBoy86]

The 92 and 94 Eagles aren't usually thought of as a dynasty, that usually requires 3+ flags in 5 years, but had we won 1991 and managed to contend a d jag a flag 1993 we'd be a 4 peater. Of course there's a lot of could have, should have moments in footy history. Collingwood are fortunate, there are at least a few occasions sides could've won 4 or 5 in a row. Melbourne in the 50s, Hawthorn in the 80s, Eagles arguably early 90s, of course Lions in 2004, Geelong 2007-11, Hawthorn 2013-2016. Lions the only ones to actually have the chance to go 4 in a row this century.

It is often said that Eagles powerhouse side - basically a WA state side they say - underperformed, but given there have been great sides that never lifted the cup, I-ll take it. The Geelong 89-95 and Saints 09-10 were 2 dynasties of runners up.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Hence why the idiots who often criticize Ablett for not winning a premiership need to look a bit deeper.

Unfortunately, Geelong ran into some of the greatest defensive setups of all time. Hawthorn of the 80's, quickly followed by West Coast and Carlton of the 90's.

Had they had a bit of luck like North Melbourne and faced Adelaide or St Kilda in a grand final, Cats would have won a flag.

They did have a bit of luck to even get into the 1994 gf. Alas, it wasn't enough .

 

[DidakDelight]

A dropped Mick McGuane chest mark and 1994 Eagles is highly unkikely.

 

[gungho]

People laud Mick Malthouse but the talent he had at his disposal in the early 90's was ridiculous.
McKenna, Macintosh, Kemp, Jackovich, Lewis, Sumich, Matera, Mainwairing, Heady and Wilson were stars.
Then Hart, Evans, Worsfold, White, Brennan, Pike, Langdon, and Waterman could play a bit too.

 

[PerthBoy86]

But again, You guys very nearly lost to Collingwood. I mean that is how fine a margin footy is in the finals.

3 of our last 4 grand finals were decided by a combined 10 points. If anyone knows the tension of close grand finals it's us. 11 points the difference between us having 2 and 5 flags.

 

[Mr Meow]

People laud Mick Malthouse but the talent he had at his disposal in the early 90's was ridiculous.
McKenna, Macintosh, Kemp, Jackovich, Lewis, Sumich, Matera, Mainwairing, Heady and Wilson were stars.
Then Hart, Evans, Worsfold, White, Brennan, Pike, Langdon, and Waterman could play a bit too.

The depth of talent discrepancy was massive in the Geelong sides they faced in grand finals. The Cats needed a handful more names like those above.

 

[Altum Volantes]

People laud Mick Malthouse but the talent he had at his disposal in the early 90's was ridiculous.
McKenna, Macintosh, Kemp, Jackovich, Lewis, Sumich, Matera, Mainwairing, Heady and Wilson were stars.
Then Hart, Evans, Worsfold, White, Brennan, Pike, Langdon, and Waterman could play a bit too.

Yes but Malthouse also changed the way the side played and instilled a defensive side to the game not seen before - this wasn't a star studded show time team, it was a defensive master-class all over the field including guys like Don Pyke who was Brett Kirk before it was cool.

Malthouse was an absolute major part of the puzzle, it was his team and his system - and is deservedly lauded.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

The depth of talent discrepancy was massive in the Geelong sides they faced in grand finals. The Cats needed a handful more names like those above.

Stoneham
Bruns
McGrath

Red heads. You needed a few more.

 

[The_Eagles]

Dean Kemp - 92 All Australian centreman, 92 Best and Fairest, 92 Norm Smith 92 premiership 94 premiership
Captain 01
Hall of Fame
Kempy was a lynchpin star and could’ve made 7 All Australians, deservedly one of our first entries in the Hall, there’s no way he is a questionable entry as I once in a while read because they look at the resume (which reads like he completely owned 1992 anyway).

 

[DidakDelight]

Kemp was 1994 Norm Smith.
Matera 1992

 

[Mr Meow]

Yes but Malthouse also changed the way the side played and instilled a defensive side to the game not seen before - this wasn't a star studded show time team, it was a defensive master-class all over the field including guys like Don Pyke who was Brett Kirk before it was cool.

Malthouse was an absolute major part of the puzzle, it was his team and his system - and is deservedly lauded.

The defensive system and personnel stood out significantly compared to Blight's Cats, where neither was ever a premiership level strength.

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Interesting. Half a game more they gained that year as opposed to 1992. Barely beat us in Perth in the first week of the finals then smashed Melbourne and Geelong by 65 and 80 points. In 1992 I think WCE slow start was due to injuries. Belted by the Saints and Bulldogs late on. I'm 94 they suffered beatings home and away to Hawthorn and Carlton by 11 goals at Princess Park.

I kind of disagree because I think the calibre of opponents in the 92 finals were better than in 94. Hawks were a very good 6th placed team as the reigning premiers and gave wce a grand final In an elimination final Narrowly losing late on. Geelong as mentioned were a force. Who knows. You would have seen more than me. I reckon in 92 they were more battle hardened.

Both very good sides.

We were 20 odd points up nearing halftime in the EF. Kicked inaccurately during that period which ended up costing us by the end of the game. Eagles just before halftime kicked 4 in about 5-6 minutes and it was back to even by HT. That's where the game was won. Ended up losing by a couple of goals after a ripper 2nd half before fading in the last 10 mins. We were a pretty good side that year beat Geelong twice and Collingwood who both finished top 3 but lost to Saints twice and Eagles twice both by similar margins. WouId argue we were about the 4th best team that year behind Footscray who had an excellent year who lost in the Prelim.

 

[DidakDelight]

We were 20 odd points up nearing halftime in the EF. Kicked inaccurately during that period which ended up costing us by the end of the game. Eagles just before halftime kicked 4 in about 5-6 minutes and it was back to even by HT. That's where the game was won. Ended up losing by a couple of goals after a ripper 2nd half before fading in the last 10 mins. We were a pretty good side that year beat Geelong twice and Collingwood who both finished top 3 but lost to Saints twice and Eagles twice both by similar margins. WouId argue we were about the 4th best team that year behind Footscray who had an excellent year who lost in the Prelim.

5th best after Collingwood, Geelong and West Coast (1992) - Pies best all of those sides but Hawks had the wood over the pies

 

[Woolly Mammoth]

Second best team I've ever seen behind the three-peat Lions.