West Coast Eagles premiership hero Mark LeCras reveals effect of club’s drought-breaking victory

West Coast premiership hero Mark LeCras says the value of the Eagles’ victory on Sunday and the effect it had on their victory-starved fans can’t be underestimated, revealing even his son was swept up in the joy of the moment.

The club broke a 308-day dry streak and 14-game losing streak with a 17-point triumph over fellow rebuilders North Melbourne at Optus Stadium.

But it was an Eagles victory that felt different, more repeatable, as the competition’s youngest side clawed back a five-goal deficit at quarter-time to hold their own 30-point lead at the final change before holding on for the win.

“There was a pretty good vibe back at Optus Stadium. Pre-game, there was a bit of a buzz back,” LeCras told The West Australian.

“(My reaction was) excitement amid a mixture of everything. There was a bit of relief after how they started the game, and I’m happy.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen the crowd like it was, particularly for a West Coast game, so I’m just really happy for the supporter base and the ones that have kept showing up.

“Even my son, to see how happy he was to watch them get a good win, it was just awesome. You hopefully want to reward the kids that have hung around.

“They can’t get ahead of themselves, but there’s some excitement there.”

More than 91,000 people rolled through Optus Stadium across Saturday and Sunday as Western Australia tasted AFL action for the first time in 2026 after three weeks of waiting.

In the Perth double header, Fremantle also came out on top of Melbourne after a blistering first-term avalanche in front of a roaring purple faithful.

Former West Coast midfielder and Norm Smith Medal winner Andrew Embley said it was exciting for WA footy to again have both home sides competitive.

“It’s been a long time since both West Coast and Fremantle were competitive in the same year, you have to go back to 2015,” Embley told The West Australian.

“It’s good for WA footy. West Coast still have a fair bit to do, there’s no doubt about that. Fremantle are in a really strong position and challenging for a flag.

“But to be honest, I haven’t heard a West Coast crowd that loud probably for a few years, maybe that win over Fremantle three years ago in a derby.

“There wouldn’t be many clubs in the competition with a record West Coast have had over the last three years that would get 47,000 to a game, it just shows how loyal Eagles supporters are.

“When Elliot Yeo kicked that goal after the three-quarter-time siren, it was just mayhem. It’s one of the advantages West Coast do have.”

Embley said it wasn’t just the end result that raised optimism about what the Eagles can do this season, but the way they represented a united front, something that at times in the past four years has looked fractured.

“I’m very proud. They flew the flag for their club and their teammates. Clubs that are united tend to do that,” he said.

“You don’t go out there to rough people up or anything like that, but you do have your moments and opportunities to stand up and stick up for a teammate.

“It was really good to see that group do that yesterday.

“I thought Jack Graham, the way he inserted himself into the game with his physicality, really set the tone, and sometimes when you have a young group it’s great to see senior players set the way in that department.”