Are West Coast Getting Worse in 2026?
The West Coast Eagles are experiencing more than just a rebuilding phase—they are entering a period of regression. Despite sporadic individual brilliance from young players like Harley Reid, the team continues to face deep systemic issues, particularly with their defense and lack of identity. After a concerning loss to an understrength Richmond side, it's clear that West Coast's problems can't be solved with a quick fix. As 2026 unfolds, the team remains the favourite for the wooden spoon, raising urgent questions about their future direction.
- West Coast Eagles facing worsening form in 2026, not just rebuilding.
- Recurring defensive breakdowns; team lacks a clear identity.
- Young players are standouts, but major structural changes needed.
True Footy AFL Podcast.
Are West Coast Getting Worse in 2026?
There’s no easy way to say it anymore. West Coast aren’t just rebuilding. They’re getting worse.
- Are West Coast Getting Worse in 2026?
- The Same Problems, Five Years On
- The Defence Is Broken
- The Only Positives Are Young
- Where Do They Go From Here?
The loss to Richmond should have been a line in the sand. A team missing half its best players, thin on depth, and still able to control the game. Not dominate on the scoreboard, but control where it mattered.
That’s the worrying part.
Because even when West Coast “won” key stats like inside 50s and disposal efficiency, it didn’t mean anything. Their entries were poor, their ball use lacked purpose, and once the ball hit the ground in dangerous areas, Richmond looked far more threatening.
That’s not bad luck. That’s a system that isn’t working.
The Same Problems, Five Years On
This isn’t new. That’s what makes it worse.
West Coast have been in this cycle for years now, and instead of progress, it feels like new lows are being found every few weeks. The players change, the excuses change, but the outcome stays the same.
They can’t defend. They can’t move the ball cleanly. And when games are there to be won, they don’t take control.
There’s no identity. Just moments.
The Defence Is Broken
Right now, the biggest issue is simple.
Their backline isn’t competitive.
It’s not just getting beaten. It’s getting exposed. Opposition teams are able to move the ball into dangerous areas too easily, and once it gets there, the resistance isn’t strong enough.
Even Richmond, a side deep in its own rebuild, looked more dangerous every time they went forward.
That should not be happening.
The Only Positives Are Young
There are bright spots.
Harley Reid. Elijah Hewett. Reuben Ginbey. Young players who look like they belong.
But it’s telling that the positives stop there.
When the most encouraging part of a team is a handful of kids and everything else looks broken, it’s not just a rebuild.
It’s a reset that hasn’t started properly yet.
Where Do They Go From Here?
That’s the hardest question.
Because it’s not obvious.
This isn’t a team one or two players fixes. It’s not even a single draft. The issues are deeper than that. Structure, confidence, consistency, all of it needs work.
Right now, West Coast look like the clear wooden spoon favourites.
And based on this performance, it’s hard to argue against it.
The most concerning part is not the result.
It’s that nothing about it felt surprising.
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