West Coast winning an historic first premiership and the unsavoury sacking of inaugural coach Ron Alexander were typical "where were you when" moments in Eagles history.
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Momentous pioneering victories headline recollections of the greatest Eagles moments, from their entry into a national competition back on March 29, 1987, to their stirring come-from-behind win over Richmond at Subiaco Oval in their first-ever game.
Nothing will ever top winning premierships, with West Coast's inaugural one in September 1992 also the first by a team from outside Victoria.
Stunning first-time triumphs as well as a remarkable resurrection triggered by all-time greats Ben Cousins, Dean Cox and Daniel Kerr also rank high. The Eagles came from nine goals down deep into the third term at a hostile Kardinia Park to finish over Geelong in 2006.
The unceremonious dismissal of Alexander in October 1987 after a first season 50 percent winning return of 11 wins and as many losses remains one of the darkest spots of the opening 30 years.
It was a disgrace and shamefully handled by the administration of the time.
The ugly scenes of Cousins as a fallen hero in October 2007, when the 2005 Brownlow medallist was detained by police in Northbridge and subsequently deregistered by the AFL after a series of drug-fuelled indiscretions sits alone as a low point in West Coast history.
The Eagles first-ever derby loss on July 18, 1999 by eight goals was another dark cloud and marked the beginning-of-the-end of a highly successful decade under hard-nosed coach Mick Malthouse, after nine straight wins over their arch enemies.
This weekend attention turns to on-field accomplishments and the initial 20-man team and coach that started with an exhilarating win first up.
Alexander and a host of the Eagles history-making first team are headed for a heroes function ahead of Friday night's clash with Richmond at Domain Stadium.
Inaugural captain Ross Glendinning and first-up fairest-and-best winner Steve Malaxos, along with other pioneering stars Phil Narkle, Laurie Keene and Michael Brennan, will also attend.
Apologies are understood to have been lodged by former great Chris Lewis, who was a last term star in the debut game when the young Eagles came from more than five goals down at the final break to win by 14 points, 20.13 (133) to the Tigers inaccurate 16.23 (119).
Other inaugural Eagles not attending include eastern-states based Alex Ishchenko, Geoff Miles, Dean Laidley and Mark Zanotti.
The euphoria of an Eagles victory over the Tigers 30 years ago was probably matched in that first season with the inaugural road trip win over power outfit Hawthorn by two goals, 15.14 (104) to 13.14 (92), at Princes Park on the ANZAC weekend.
Another notable conquest on the road in those early years sits high among great outings when West Coast won their first final over Melbourne at Waverley Park by five goals, after Malthouse had savagely wielded the axe at selection.
West Coast lost a first final under Malthouse a week earlier to eventual 1990 premiers Collingwood by 10 goals and the uncompromising coach made six changes, including dumping captain Malaxos.
Malthouse engineered a ruthless first western derby demolition on Mother's Day in May five years on when West Coast mauled the new Fremantle unit by 85 points in a whitewash, 23.13 (151) to 9.12 (66), with Brett Heady best-afield with five goals.
It was under 1990s premiership captain and inspiring leader John Worsfold as coach through the next decade that more special milestones were etched into folklore.
On the journey to a third premiership and Worsfold's first as coach in 2006, the Eagles pulled a remarkable escape in Geelong on the Saturday afternoon of a long weekend in WA.
Trailing by a whopping 54 points, 18 minutes into the third term, West Coast triggered the biggest-ever comeback from so far down, so late into a match, booting 11 of the last 12 goals in the clash.
It sits among one of the their finest ever home-and-away accomplishments.
There are so many great West Coast moments that rival each other as standout exploits through 30 seasons.
In more recent times, the surprise rise into premiership contention last season to make it into a sixth Grand Final, the first under rising coach Adam Simpson, as well as the stunning Brownlow Medal win from ever-popular centreman Matthew Priddis a season earlier, rank right up there.
The 2006 flag at the height of such a fierce rivalry with Sydney, the Brownlow win from superstar draft import Chris Judd in 2004, and the club's first Grand Final in 1991 still sit among the top moments.
Individual greatness from premiership superstars Peter Matera and Dean Kemp with Norm Smith Medals in the 90s and Andrew Embley in 2006, as well as consistent herculean defensive performances from Glen Jakovich against the great Wayne Carey and Ashley McIntosh in some epic one-on-ones with Gary Ablett (Snr), Tony Lockett and Jason Dunstall also stand out.
Scott Cummings bagging a new club record 14.1 at the WACA Ground under lights in round 4 of 2000 against Adelaide to eclipse champion goal-sneak Peter Sumich's 13 against Footscray (Western Bulldogs) at the same venue a decade earlier, is another individual limelight contender.
Judd's astonishing five-goal haul to demolish then reigning powerhouse outfit Brisbane in June of 2003 in just his second season is another amazing performance among so many.
Kim Hagdorn's top 10 Eagles moments:
1. First premiership in 1992 (vs Geelong)
2. Third premiership in 2006, under John Worsfold (vs Sydney)
3. Second premiership in 1994 (vs Geelong)
4. First final win in 1990 (vs Melbourne at Waverley)
5. First win, against Richmond in 1987 (at Subiaco Oval)
6. First ever Western Derby in 1995, a smashing win (85 points)
7. Huge comeback win over Geelong in 2006 (54 points down)
8. Ben Cousins comeback against Sydney after July 2007 suspension (38 possessions)
9. First Grand Final appearance in 1991 (vs Hawthorn)
10. Mick Malthouse appointment in September 1989
