Five wins in two years. From 2018 premiers to consecutive wooden spoons in 2023-2024. West Coast’s collapse ranks among the most spectacular in AFL history.
The Eagles managed just 2-20-1 in 2024, their worst season since entering the competition in 1987.
The dynasty veterans are gone. Nic Naitanui retired after 2023. Luke Shuey retired after 2024. Jeremy McGovern remains the lone connection to premiership glory, and even he played just 11 games battling injuries.
Their combined salaries once topped $2.5 million annually. Now? Less than $700,000 with McGovern alone.
Pick 1 selection Harley Reid represents hope. The 19-year-old phenom from Bendigo earned approximately $600,000 in his debut season, West Coast’s most expensive first-year player ever. He’s their future. Everyone else is placeholder until 2027.
Learn more about West Coast Eagles players’ backgrounds and financial details by selecting their name below.
| Player Name | Position |
| Jeremy McGovern | Defender |
| Liam Duggan | Defender |
| Liam Baker | Defender |
| Jayden Hunt | Defender |
| Brady Hough | Defender |
| Reuben Ginbey | Defender |
| Harry Edwards | Defender |
| Ryan Maric | Defender |
| Tom Cole | Defender |
| Bo Allan | Defender |
| Tom Gross | Defender |
| Clay Hall | Defender |
| Oscar Allen | Defender/Forward |
| Liam Ryan | Forward |
| Jake Waterman | Forward |
| Jamie Cripps | Forward |
| Jack Petruccelle | Forward |
| Tyler Brockman | Forward |
| Noah Long | Forward |
| Matt Owies | Forward |
| Elijah Hewett | Midfielder |
| Tim Kelly | Midfielder |
| Dom Sheed | Midfielder |
| Jack Graham | Midfielder |
| Campbell Chesser | Midfielder |
| Matthew Flynn | Ruck |
| Archer Reid | Ruck |
The Expensive Ghosts of 2018
Jeremy McGovern remains on contract earning approximately $700,000-800,000 annually through 2025. The four-time All-Australian played 11 injury-affected games in 2024. He’s 32 years old and breaking down, but he’s also West Coast’s defensive general and last premiership link worth keeping.
Elliot Yeo signed an extension through 2026 worth approximately $3.5 million total. He earns roughly $650,000-750,000 annually despite playing just 13 games in 2024. The 31-year-old midfielder’s body is failing. His contract looks increasingly unmovable as injuries pile up.
Tim Kelly returned from Geelong in 2019 costing two first-round picks. His contract pays approximately $700,000-800,000 annually through 2025. The 31-year-old averaged 23.1 disposals in 2024 but couldn’t lift West Coast from last place. He wants out, requesting trade to North Melbourne after the season.
Liam Ryan extended through 2027 earning an estimated $500,000-600,000 annually. The electric forward kicked 27 goals in 2024, one of few positives. He’s 28 and could fetch decent trade value if West Coast decides accelerating the rebuild matters more than sentiment.
Harley Reid’s rookie contract pays approximately $600,000 in year one, escalating through 2026. That’s premium money for a first-year player, but he’s Pick 1. The 19-year-old averaged 17.4 disposals winning the NAB Rising Star award despite West Coast’s horrors. He’s untouchable.
West Coast’s salary cap sits around $14-15 million with $1.5-2 million unused space. They’re not spending to the cap because there’s no point. Better to bank flexibility for 2026-2027 when the kids mature.
The $2.5M Salary Purge Nobody Wanted
Nic Naitanui’s retirement after 2023 cleared approximately $800,000 annually. The dual All-Australian ruckman couldn’t overcome persistent knee injuries. His departure ended 15 seasons of elite tap work and heartbreaking near-misses.
Luke Shuey announced retirement mid-2024 clearing approximately $750,000 annually. The 2018 Norm Smith medallist and premiership captain couldn’t drag his body through another losing season. He finished with one flag from 15 years, a cruel return for elite sacrifice.
Shannon Hurn retired after 2022 clearing $600,000. Willie Rioli departed in 2023 saving $400,000. Josh Kennedy retired after 2022 clearing $700,000. The cumulative exodus totaled approximately $3.25 million in cleared salary space between 2022-2024.
West Coast didn’t replace them with equivalent talent. They couldn’t. Elite free agents don’t choose wooden spoon teams in Perth. Instead, the Eagles invested in youth: Reuben Ginbey ($250K), Elijah Hewett ($220K), Jayden Hunt ($200K). Combined cost: $670,000. Combined age: 60.
This isn’t Carlton’s attempted quick fix through expensive free agents. This is Hawthorn-style scorched earth rebuilding. Burn everything, start fresh, accept wooden spoons while kids develop. The difference? Hawthorn chose their rebuild. West Coast’s was forced by catastrophic list collapse.
Why Fremantle Thrives While West Coast Dies
The Western Derby rivals sit on opposite trajectories. Fremantle finished 10th targeting finals breakthrough with Andrew Brayshaw ($1M), Caleb Serong ($850K), and Hayden Young ($700K) entering their prime. West Coast finished 18th with 2 wins developing teenagers on rookie contracts.
Fremantle maintained continuity. They haven’t won a premiership but avoided complete collapse. Their worst recent season was 10th (2024). West Coast plummeted from 2018 premiers to consecutive wooden spoons in just five years.
The difference? List management timing. Fremantle never built an aging premiership core requiring expensive retention. They traded Lachie Neale (became 2020 Brownlow medallist at Brisbane) before paying him $1 million. They let Nat Fyfe’s body break down on affordable veteran deals rather than locking him long-term.
West Coast made the opposite choices. They extended premiership heroes into their 30s at premium rates. Nic Naitanui ($800K at 32), Luke Shuey ($750K at 33), Shannon Hurn ($600K at 35). Loyalty destroyed their cap flexibility and list balance.
Fremantle’s approach delivered consistent mediocrity. West Coast’s delivered a premiership then catastrophic failure. Which is better? Depends whether you value one flag and five wooden spoons or zero flags and consistent competitiveness.
The Harley Reid Gamble: $600K for a Teenager
West Coast paid Harley Reid approximately $600,000 in his debut season, premium money for Pick 1 selections. Most first-year players earn $100,000-150,000 on rookie contracts. Reid’s deal reflects his status as generational talent and West Coast’s desperate need for marketable hope.
The investment paid off immediately. Reid won Rising Star after averaging 17.4 disposals and 4.2 tackles across 23 games. He played every match despite West Coast winning just two. That durability and effort in a historically bad team justified every dollar.
Compare this to previous Pick 1 busts. Paddy McCartin (St Kilda, 2014) managed 35 games across five seasons before concussion retirement. Tom Boyd (GWS then Western Bulldogs, 2013) played 61 games across seven seasons earning $6 million. Reid delivered more value in one year than Boyd did in seven.
West Coast structured Reid’s contract escalating to approximately $800,000 by year three. That’s star money before proving anything beyond one excellent debut season. The gamble assumes he becomes elite. If injuries or form collapse happen, West Coast paid premium rates for unfulfilled potential.
But what choice did they have? Offering Reid minimum wage would’ve insulted him. He knew his worth. West Coast needed him more than he needed them. So they paid up and hoped their judgment holds.
FAQs
Why did West Coast collapse so quickly after 2018?
West Coast fell from 2018 premiers to consecutive wooden spoons (2023-2024) because they extended aging premiership heroes (Naitanui $800K, Shuey $750K, Hurn $600K) into their 30s. When injuries and form decline hit simultaneously, their list imploded. They won just 7 games across two seasons (2-20-1 in 2024) after winning the flag six years earlier.
How much does Harley Reid earn as a first-year player?
Harley Reid earned approximately $600,000 in his 2024 debut season, premium money for a Pick 1 selection when most first-year players earn $100,000-150,000. His contract escalates to roughly $800,000 by year three, rewarding his Rising Star win after averaging 17.4 disposals across 23 games for the wooden spoon team.
Does West Coast have salary cap space?
West Coast operates at approximately $14-15 million under the $16.49 million soft cap with $1.5-2 million unused space. The club cleared $3.25 million through retirements (Naitanui $800K, Shuey $750K, Hurn $600K) between 2022-2024 but chose banking flexibility over expensive recruitment during rebuild.
Can West Coast challenge Fremantle in the Western Derby again?
West Coast won just 2 games in 2024 while Fremantle finished 10th targeting finals. The Eagles won’t seriously challenge until 2027-2028 when Harley Reid (19), Reuben Ginbey (20), and Elijah Hewett (21) mature. Fremantle’s window opens 2025-2027 with Brayshaw (24), Serong (23), and Young (23) in their prime, creating 3-5 year Derby dominance.
