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Posted: 2024-03-14 21:23:32

The 2024 AFL season looms as very consequential in the short-term fortunes of both West Australian clubs and their coaches.

West Coast is coming off a wooden spoon, several high-profile retirements and a change in CEO, while Fremantle will be hoping last year was an aberration following a successful 2022 season.

But while both clubs want improvement, the 'pass mark' is very different for each.

West Coast

The Eagles have won just five of their past 49 AFL matches, farewelled Luke Shuey, Shannon Hurn and Nic Naitanui, and are already grappling with injuries — again.

Matt Flynn, who was recruited to allow stand-in ruck Bailey Williams to play as a forward, has suffered a serious hamstring injury and won't be available until midway through the year.

Liam Ryan has also battled a hamstring issue, Elijah Hewett has a foot problem, while Dom Sheed has only just resumed running on grass after foot trouble of his own.

West Coast Eagles players Dom Sheed looks exasperated during a game.

Dom Sheed's pre-season has been blighted by a foot injury. (AAP Image: Richard Wainwright )

Several others have missed part of the pre-season with various injuries as well.

It's not all doom and gloom for the four-time premiers though, with number one draft pick Harley Reid providing some hope — and plenty of headlines — and the selection of Oscar Allen and Liam Duggan as co-captains offering a look to the future.

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But once the season starts, all of that will count for little if there aren't clear signs of improvement.

The Eagles lost five games by 100 points or more last year (after only two in 2022), and 10 games by 10 goals or more (after eight in 2022). Their average losing margin was 64 points.

West Coast can not see a repeat of this in 2024.

On paper, the Eagles' defence appears solid, with Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass still playing, along with Duggan and Brady Hough.

The midfield may be missing Shuey, but a fit and firing Elliot Yeo is a welcome inclusion, and with the reliable Tim Kelly joining Reid, Reuben Ginbey and possibly Hewett and Jai Culley, they should be competitive around the ball.

West Coast Eagles player Elliot Yeo runs carrying a football.

Elliot Yeo is hopeful he has shrugged off the injuries that have plagued him since 2020. (AAP Image: Matt Turner)

Indeed, against Adelaide in the pre-season, the Eagles won the centre clearance count, and matched the Crows for inside-50s for a large portion of the game.

They still lost by 67 points, highlighting the area they will most likely struggle — converting possession into scores.

Last season Allen kicked 53 goals, more than a quarter of the Eagles' season tally of 204.

West Coast Eagles player Oscar Allen holds the ball during a game.

Oscar Allen snagged 53 goals last season from limited opportunities. (AAP Image: Richard Wainwright)

They scored (goals or behinds) from 35 per cent of inside-50s. The league average, including West Coast's contribution, is 39 per cent, while Brisbane scored more than 41 per cent of the time.

Allen will need help from Jack Darling and others, including a fit-again Jake Waterman, if they are to put competitive scores on the board.

Fremantle

Across town, Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is also under the pump, and the club's decision to extend his contract by a single season — until the end of 2025 — won't have done much to ease the pressure.

Scoring looks likely to be Fremantle's major hurdle as well, but at the other end of the ground, as it looks to return to finals.

The Dockers booted 271 goals last season, exactly what they kicked in 2022 when they finished fifth, but from an extra game played in 2023.

The difference between the two seasons was goals conceded. They increased from 233 in 2022, to 279 in 2023.

If Jye Amiss continues on his impressive early career trajectory, he'll go a long way to improving Fremantle's own goal scoring, but he'll need help from those around him.

Fremantle Dockers player Jye Amiss carries the ball during a game.

Exciting prospect Jye Amiss was rewarded with a six-year contract extension last year. (AAP Image: Joel Carrett)

Injury has restricted Matt Taberner to just 17 games in the past two seasons, while Josh Treacy has kicked 29 goals from his 36 AFL games so far.

During the pre-season, that pair didn't do much to show they will be reliable paths to goal in 2024, combining for 12 disposals and no goals against Port Adelaide.

The Dockers will also need to find a way to apply forward-line pressure following the departure of Lachie Schultz to Collingwood. He kicked 33 goals last season and was the side's fourth-most prolific tackler.

Three Fremantle dockers players, Michael Walters, Hayden Young and Lachie Schultz looking dejected while walking off the field.

Fremantle must learn to live without Lachie Schultz (right) in attack.(AAP Image: Richard Wainwright)

The argument can be made that the forward line is at the mercy of what the midfield delivers, and for the Dockers, their young midfield will be hoping to rediscover the form that made the side a handful in 2022.

The likely full-time return of Nat Fyfe to the on-ball brigade will add some much-needed size, but his recent track record of injuries means every match he successfully completes will be greeted with a sigh of relief from the Dockers faithful.

Fremantle Dockers player Nat Fyfe holds the ball while being tackled on the ground.

After some injury-riddled years there are hopes Nat Fyfe can stay on the park in 2024. (AAP Image: Richard Wainwright)

While Fyfe adds experience, actual midfield improvement will need to come from Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong, while Hayden Young has shown he will be a valuable addition.

Making finals appears to be the absolute minimum for the Dockers and Longmuir.

The Dockers made big leaps in 2022 but took a lot of backward steps in 2023.

This year will determine which was the aberration.

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