The 2014 season was the West Coast Eagles' 28th season in the Australian Football League (AFL), the premier Australian rules football competition. The 2014 season also marks the first season of the club's reserves affiliation with the East Perth Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). West Coast finished thirteenth in the previous season, despite having made the finals in the two preceding seasons. At the end of the 2013 season, previous coach John Worsfold retired, after twelve seasons in the position, and was replaced by Adam Simpson, who had not coached previously at AFL level. Darren Glass was retained as captain for a seventh season, with Josh Kennedy and Scott Selwood as vice-captains. However, Glass retired from football after round 12, and was replaced by five acting co-captains: Shannon Hurn, Kennedy, Eric Mackenzie, Matt Priddis, and Selwood. Undefeated in the 2014 pre-season competition (which used a different format to previous years), West Coast started its season against the on 23 March. The club failed to qualify for the 2014 finals series, finishing its season in ninth place, with 11 wins and 11 losses. Priddis won the highest individual award, the Brownlow Medal, Beau Waters won the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award, and Mackenzie was the club champion winning the John Worsfold Medal. No players from West Coast were selected on the All-Australian team.
Squad and leadership group Darren Glass was initially named captain of the West Coast Eagles for a seventh season, having taken over from Chris Judd from the 2008 season. Scott Selwood and Josh Kennedy were named vice-captains, while Dean Cox and Matt Priddis were also named to the leadership group."Darren Glass named West Coast Eagles captain for seventh season" – Herald Sun. Published 29 January 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014. Beau Waters, who had been sole vice-captain for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, stepped down from the role to concentrate on his recovery from persistent shoulder injuries.Mark Duffield (2014). "Eagles stick with Glass as captain" – The West Australian. Published 29 January 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014. Leadership positions were voted on by the playing group as a whole, and confirmed by the senior coach, the match committee, and the board.Gary Stocks (2014). "Glass takes the lead again" – West Coast Eagles. Published 29 January 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014. Darren Glass announced his retirement from football prior to round 13 of the season.Braden Quartermaine and Chris Robinson (12 June 2014). "West Coast Eagles skipper Darren Glass retires from AFL" – PerthNow. Retrieved 12 June 2014. Five players were named acting co-captains for the remainder of the season: Shannon Hurn, Josh Kennedy, Eric Mackenzie, Matt Priddis, and Scott Selwood.Alex Malcolm (13 June 2014). Up to five could rotate West Coast captaincy – Australian Football League. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
Pre-season
List changes and coaching changes West Coast delisted Bradd Dalziell and Cale Morton at the end of the 2013 season.Alex Malcolm (2013). "West Coast cuts Dalziell, Morton" – Australian Football League. Published 30 October 2013. Retrieved 7 April 2014. Murray Newman was also delisted, but was redrafted by the club with pick 38 in the 2014 Rookie Draft.Nick Bowen (14 November 2013). "West Coast delists Newman, but plans rookie list spot" – Australian Football League. Retrieved 7 April 2014. Brad Dick, Andrew Embley, Ashton Hams, Daniel Kerr, Mark Nicoski, and Adam Selwood all retired from AFL football at various stages during and after the season.Alex Malcolm (1 September 2013). "Two more Eagles announce retirements" – Australian Football League. Retrieved 7 April 2014.— (28 August 2013). "Norm Smith medallist Embley pulls the pin" – Australian Football League. Retrieved 7 April 2014.Alex Malcolm (15 October 2013). "Kerr calls it quits" – Australian Football League. Retrieved 7 April 2014.Alex Malcolm (15 August 2013). "Selwood, Nicoski announce retirements" – Australian Football League. Retrieved 7 April 2014. During the trade period, player Xavier Ellis joined West Coast on a one-year contract as an unrestricted free agent.James Dampney, Nathan Schmook, and Jennifer Phelan (16 October 2013). "New Eagle Ellis will retire if body fails again" – Australian Football League. Retrieved 7 April 2014. Midway through the season, in August 2014, West Coast signed former professional baseball player Corey Adamson, adding him to the rookie list under the three-year non-registered rule, which allows clubs to recruit players who have not been registered with an AFL-affiliated competition. He had previously played underage representative football for Western Australia.Gary Stocks (11 August 2014). "Eagles look to left field for new recruit" – West Coast Eagles. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
The club's longest-serving senior coach, John Worsfold, resigned on 5 September 2013, after twelve seasons in the position.Alex Malcolm (5 September 2013). "Worsfold quits as Eagles coach" – Australian Football League. Retrieved 7 April 2014. A number of candidates interviewed for the position, notably West Coast assistant Scott Burns, assistant Adam Simpson, assistant Peter Sumich, and assistant Leigh Tudor.— (30 September 2013). "Eagles coach search heats up as candidates interviewed" – Australian Football League. Retrieved 7 April 2014. Simpson and Sumich, who had previously been an assistant under Worsfold, progressed to the final interview before the club's board, with Simpson announced as the club's new coach on 3 October 2013.Greg Denham (3 October 2013). "Adam Simpson gets the nod to coach West Coast Eagles" – The Australian. Retrieved 7 April 2014.Nathan Schmook (3 October 2013). "Woosha's heir: Clarkson understudy wins race for West Coast coaching gig" – Australian Football League. Retrieved 7 April 2014. A number of other coaching staff also left the club at the end of the 2013 season, though their departures were unrelated. Assistants Scott Burns and David Teague left to join and , respectively,"Burns quits Eagles for Collingwood" – The West Australian. Retrieved 7 April 2014. while strategy coach Phil Walsh left to fill the same position at , and was replaced by Don Pyke.— (10 September 2013). "Teague joins Eagle exodus" – The Age. Retrieved 7 April 2014.Brad Elborough (18 October 2013). "Don Pyke returns to Eagles as assistant coach" – The Age. Retrieved 7 April 2014. After Adam Simpon's appointment as senior coach, former player Brady Rawlings and former and player Adrian Hickmott were made assistant coaches, joining Justin Longmuir.Brad Elborough (14 October 2013). "Brady Rawlings named new assistant at West Coast" – The Age. Retrieved 7 April 2014.Brad Elborough (28 October 2013). "Adrian Hickmott completes West Coast Eagles' coaching panel" – The Age. Retrieved 7 April 2014. Two previous West Coast players, Adam Selwood and Jaymie Graham, and another former North Melbourne player, Daniel Pratt, were also appointed to development coaching roles.— (11 October 2013). "Graham returns to the nest" – West Coast Eagles. Retrieved 7 April 2014.Gary Stocks (20 2013). "Selwood sticking around" – West Coast Eagles. Retrieved 7 April 2013.Ross Lewis (4 November 2013). "Simpson lures Pratt to Eagles nest" – The West Australian. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
Trades and draft selections Trades: Picks 6 and 44 to , in return for picks 11, 31, and 49.Nathan Schmook (21 October 2013). "Magpies, Eagles trade picks to grab players" – Australian Football League. Retrieved 10 April 2014. Pick 28 to the , in return for Elliot YeoNathan Schmook (24 October 2013). "Yeo finally an Eagle as Lions add more picks" – Australian Football League. Retrieved 10 April 2014. A round-three compensation pick in the 2014 AFL draft to , in return for pick 43 in the 2013 draft.Nathan Schmook and Mark Macgugan (25 October 2013). "Eagles improve draft position, Suns get set for the future" – Australian Football League. Retrieved 10 April 2014. National Draft selections:Ben Roberts (21 November 2013). "Sheed heads list of new Eagles" – West Coast Eagles. Retrieved 7 April 2014. 11 – Dom Sheed () 31 – Malcolm Karpany () 43 – Tom Barrass () 49 – Dylan Main () 61 – Jamie Bennell (, via West Coast) (rookie upgrade) 74 – Jeremy McGovern (, via West Coast) (rookie upgrade) 85 – Simon Tunbridge (, via West Coast) (rookie upgrade) Rookie Draft selections:Gary Stocks (27 November 2013). "Rookies complete 2014 squad" – West Coast Eagles. Retrieved 7 April 2014. 10 – Will Maginness (Oakleigh Chargers) 27 – Rowen Powell () 38 – Murray Newman (, via West Coast) (re-drafted)
NAB Challenge and practice matches Unlike previous pre-season tournaments, the 2014 NAB Challenge did not have a grand final or overall winner, instead consisting of "18 games in 18 days", with each team playing twice. West Coast began by defeating by 84 points at Arena Joondalup,Kim Hagdorn (2014). "West Coast Eagles smash arch-rivals Fremantle in NAB Challenge clash at Joondalup" – Perth Now. Published 18 February 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2014. and also won their second game, against at Blacktown International Sportspark.
Date Score Opponent Opponent'sscore Result Venue Attendance Tuesday, 18 February 4:10pm 2.20.10 (148) 0.10.4 (64) Won by 84 points Arena Joondalup 10,737 Thursday, 27 February 7:10pm 0.10.12 (72) 0.5.7 (37) Won by 35 points Blacktown ISP 3,045 Thursday, 6 March 4:40pm 13.8 (86) 9.13 (67) Won by 19 points Patersons Stadium 12,000
Home-and-away season
Results Home team's score listed in bold:
Round Date Score Opponent Opponent'sscore Result Venue Attendance 1 Sunday, 23 March 4:40pm 21.8 (134) 11.3 (69) Won by 65 points Patersons Stadium 36,752 2 Sunday, 30 March 3:20pm 18.15 (123) 4.6 (30) Won by 93 points MCG 22,229 3 Saturday, 5 April 4:40pm 12.11 (83) 8.10 (58) Won by 25 points Patersons Stadium 36,448 4 Saturday, 12 April 7:40pm 4.8 (32) 16.11 (107) Lost by 75 points Skilled Stadium 25,271 5 Saturday, 19 April 5:40pm 7.14 (56) 10.10 (70) Lost by 14 points Patersons Stadium35,366 6 Saturday, 26 April 4:40pm 12.17 (89) 14.8 (92) Lost by 3 points Etihad Stadium 31,005 7 Sunday, 4 May 2:40pm 7.12 (54) 11.7 (73) Lost by 19 points Patersons Stadium 40,476 8 Sunday, 11 May 2:40pm 30.8 (188) 12.5 (77) Won by 111 points Patersons Stadium 29,391 9 bye 10 Saturday, 24 May 4:40pm 15.11 (101) 17.7 (109) Lost by 8 points MCG 53,049 11 Sunday, 1 June 5:40pm 6.8 (44) 12.10 (82) Lost by 38 points Patersons Stadium 35,914 12 Saturday, 7 June 1:40pm 12.7 (79) 19.9 (123) Lost by 44 points Aurora Stadium 15,504 13 Saturday, 14 June 2:40pm 15.13 (103) 15.10 (100) Won by 3 points Patersons Stadium 32,942 14 Sunday, 22 June 3:20pm 10.10 (70) 15.13 (103) Won by 33 points Etihad Stadium 17,317 15 Saturday, 28 June 2:40pm 13.10 (88) 11.15 (81) Lost by 7 points Patersons Stadium 40,490 16 Sunday, 6 July 1:20pm 7.9 (51) 10.19 (79) Lost by 28 points Patersons Stadium 25,076 17 Saturday, 12 July 7:40pm 9.10 (64) 11.10 (76) Won by 12 points The Gabba 13,610 18 Friday, 25 July 6:40pm 6.6 (42) 8.11 (59) Lost by 17 points Patersons Stadium 32,270 19 Saturday, 2 August 1:10pm 20.16 (136) 16.9 (105) Won by 31 points Adelaide Oval 49,470 20 Sunday, 10 August 2:40pm 19.12 (126) 10.6 (66) Won by 60 points Patersons Stadium 36,458 21 Saturday, 16 August 4:40pm 11.8 (74) 11.11 (77) Lost by 3 points Etihad Stadium 35,905 22 Saturday, 23 August 5:40pm 18.11 (119) 8.5 (53) Won by 66 points Patersons Stadium 35,905 23 Sunday, 31 August 1:10pm 23.13 (151) 15.9 (99) Won by 52 points Metricon Stadium 11,840 source: West Coast Eagles, 11 August 2014
Tribunal cases Seven West Coast Eagles players have so far been cited by the Match Review Panel during the 2014 season, with Patrick McGinnity, Luke Shuey, Darren Glass, Mark LeCras, and Josh Kennedy receiving suspensions:Tribunal 2014 – Footystats. Retrieved 11 August 2014.