Geelong were in desperate need of a win midway through 2006, and had one all but locked away when they led the Eagles by 54 points late in the third quarter of this game. West Coast, without their brightest star Chris Judd, rallied enough to reduce the margin to 36 by three-quarter-time, but still looked a long shot. But the Eagles' star runners Daniel Kerr and Ben Cousins took over from that point, fed superbly by the ruck prowess of Dean Cox. West Coast slammed on 7.3 to a solitary goal in the last quarter, Kerr and Cousins racking up 20 touches between them. Adam Hunter, who had been catapulted into a fence early in the game but played on despite the heavy knock, put West Coast in front for the final time 26 minutes into the last term, and a desperate plight just 40 minutes earlier had become a famous victory.

2. West Coast v Brisbane (Round 5, 2002, Subiaco)

So hot were the Lions early in 2002 that by the time of their road trip to Perth, they had won 20 games in a row, just three short of equalling Geelong's record. West Coast, under new coach John Worsfold, were coming off a shocking 2001 in which the Eagles won just five games and finished 14th. At 2-2 after four rounds, little was expected against the heavyweights. But West Coast ended the day having blown the Lions off the park. Little-known spearhead Troy Wilson kicked five goals, but the more ominous signs were in the form of second-year midfielder Daniel Kerr, who starred, and first-year rookie Chris Judd, who also weighed in, that pair lending the support skipper Ben Cousins had badly missed. The Eagles led by only eight points at half-time, but won by 46, bringing Brisbane's streak to an end and showing that they were also a team very much on the rise.

3. Hawthorn v West Coast (Round 7, 1991, Princes Park)

West Coast had reached the 1990 preliminary final and won their first six games of the following season, but there was still much scepticism about just how good Mick Malthouse's Eagles were. There was certainly no more after this afternoon, when the WA visitors blew perennial heavyweights Hawthorn away on the Hawks' own turf. After an even first term, West Coast exploded with a seven-goal second quarter, and kept the heat on with 11 goals to just three in the second half. Ten goalkickers shared the spoils as midfield pair Chris Lewis and Chris Mainwaring ran amok, while skipper John Worsfold was terrific in defence. By the end, the margin had blown out to a whopping 82 points, as the WA side's confidence continued to soar. The Eagles would go on to win 12 games straight and 19 out of 22 in the regular season.

4. Sydney v West Coast (Round 1, 2007, Telstra Stadium)

The Eagles and Swans could barely be split in the mid-2000s, one grand final win each and five previous encounters, amazingly, decided by a total of just 12 points. This would be no different, but conducted against a very contrasting backdrop. Ben Cousins' fall from grace had been the huge story of the off-season. He was in the United States in rehab when this game was played. The Eagles were also missing another six players from their 2006 premiership team. But despite the unrelenting controversy, the Eagles still willed themselves across the line. A blistering start had them 36 points up by half-time. The Swans, of course, came again, and with West Coast shot to ribbons physically by the finish, a home victory looked likely. Yet despite just one goal in the second half, the Eagles held on. Skipper Chris Judd and Daniel Kerr kept the fires burning, and a desperate tackle from Kerr on Jarrad McVeigh in the final seconds was the match-winner.

5. West Coast v Richmond (Round 1, 1987, Subiaco)

Much hype and expectation surrounded the birth of WA's first team to enter the then-VFL. But for much of the Eagles' debut fans appeared set to be disappointed. Richmond were not a great side, but the Tigers were seasoned, and after keeping pace with the debutants broke away with a seven-goal third term to lead by 33 points at the final change, Maurice Rioli, who could well have been playing for the home side, instead torching them for the Tigers. West Coast coach Ron Alexander made a clutch of moves, including switching skipper Ross Glendinning from defence to attack. Suddenly, things clicked. Big Laurie Keene and Andrew McNish, in their league debuts, shared six goals, Phil Narkle and Murray Wrensted were inspired, and West Coast slammed on nine goals to one in the last quarter to win by 14 points. It proved the perfect launch pad for consistently good performances from the fledgling WA club.