I suspect many South Australians were last year bemoaning the shape of that State's football when the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide were struggling. This year, the Power is probably the most improved side in the competition and Adelaide is still dangerous and a genuine finals contender. Even last year, when StKilda and the Magpies finished at the bottom of the ladder, knee-jerk critics were asking questions about the strength of Melbourne clubs. The local WAFL competition in Perth is still a terrific breeding ground for quality players such as Shane Woewodin and Jonathan Hay. Fremantle could easily have won five or six of its games this year.
West Coast is a terrific club with quality personnel on and off the field.
It's disappointing to hear reports of members booing the coaches during this rough patch. Before West Australian fans become too intolerant, they should consider clubs such as St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs, who have managed to accumulate only two flags between them during their long and proud histories. Even a figurehead club such as Collingwood can point to just one premiership in the past 47 years. All clubs go through bad patches and it is just a coincidence that Fremantle and the Eagles are struggling at the same time. West Australian football is far from dead.