West Coast finishes with worst season in AFL history after round 24 loss to Sydney

They started poorly, but lifted and showed enough in the second half to suggest they belong among the top sides in the competition.

The finish was strong, kicking 13 of the last 14 goals to beat the Eagles by 67 points.

Errol Gulden, Isaac Heeney, Tom Papley and Callum Mills weren’t far away every time the Swans looked threatening.

That’ll be the big takeaway from ’25 for the Swans.

Both Gulden and Mills missed the first half of the season when the Swans struggled to gain any momentum.

Papley missed rounds three through to 15.

The 18.10 (118) to 7.9 (59) result was the Swans eighth win from their last 11 outings to finish the season well clear of both the bottom eight side on the ladder, but also the top nine.

But if the aforementioned quarter can stay over the off-season, the Swans bounce back into the top rung of the ladder could be swift.

THE BAD WAS BAD

The Swans trailed the Eagles by 13-points at quarter-time, and that was only thanks to Hayden McLean’s goal after the siren.

West Coast hadn’t led anyone at quarter-time since round 18.

The Swans copped an almighty spray from coach Dean Cox at quarter-time.

And rightly so. They were playing an Eagles side who have produced one of the worst seasons in the AFL era.

Yet, with fans of both sides looking for glimpses of what 2026 will look like, it was West Coast who provided the most hope early.

Debutant Lucca Grego showed enough to wonder where he’d been all season and ruck Matt Flynn was clunking everything in the air that went his way.

At the main break, led by a rejuvenated Tim Kelly and Jack Graham, the Eagles led the count for possessions, contested possessions and tackles.

KEEP ON TARGET

West Coast has also found a key forward in former Bendigo under-18 Jobe Shanahan.

The 19-year-old was one of six first-year players in the Eagles line-up.

He kicked three goals, also taking three marks. And gave Sydney’s defence some problems.

He finished this season with 12 goals from nine games, also kicking three goals against minor premier Adelaide in round 22.

But veteran Jamie Cripps ended the season the Eagles leading goal scorer with 24 goals, including one against the Swans.

That’s the lowest tally for the Eagles top scorer since they joined the competition in 1987, nine shy of Peter Sumich’s 33 goals in 1997.

JUST NOT ENOUGH

The Swans end the season with 12 wins and a percentage of 97.0.

In the 13 seasons that the competition has been an 18-game competition, that would have seen the Swans play finals three times.

The 2020 season, the COVID year, can’t be counted, as teams only played 17 games.

In 2021, Essendon won 11 games to finish in eighth spot.

In 2013, Port Adelaide finished the season in eighth spot, with 12 wins, but Essendon was relegated from seventh spot to ninth due to its controversial supplements program.

Carlton played finals even though it had won only 11 games.

In those past 12 full AFL seasons, 12 wins was enough for four teams to play finals, but they had a better percentage than what the Swans have finished 2025 with.

UNWANTED RECORD

West Coast ended its first season under Andrew McQualter with its worst return since joining the competition in 1987, with just one win.

Even the Eagles dreadful 2022 was better; they won two games.

They claimed their second wooden spoon in three seasons and third overall.

Greater Western Sydney was the last team to finish a season with just one win, in 2013, the club’s second year in the competition.

Before that, Fitzroy won only one game in 1996, its last season in the competition.