West Coast Eagles have collected their fifth straight WAFL wooden spoon in heartbreaking circumstances after they were cruelly denied victory by a late Swan Districts major at Mineral Resources Park.

Ayden Cartwright’s last-gasp goal in the final minute saw the Swans cling on for a five-point win, condemning the Eagles to yet another last-placed finish with an 11.12 (78) to 11.7 (73).

Three final term goals to young ruck Harry Barnett looked to have been enough for West Coast to claim their third win of the year, but Cartwright’s second of the game minutes later broke hearts.

Heading into their second last game of the season, the Eagles were long odds to leapfrog Subiaco in ninth, who sported an eight-point advantage.

And the Eagles’ battling loss made it impossible for them to overhaul the Lions and their two-win lead heading into West Coast’s final game of the season, against minor premiers South Fremantle.

Amid some promising showings from several AFL-listed players, West Coast did well to lead by five at the break and despite relinquishing the lead to trail by seven at the last change, heroically hit the front late thanks to Barnett’s huge final term

Two Jacks — Williams and Petruccelle — were among the Eagles’ best, with the former kicking three and snaffling 12 marks, while the youthful triumvarte off half-back of Harvey Johnston, Tyrell Dewar and Lucca Grego all had at least 20 disposals.

AFL players kicked the first three goals of the games, as Petruccelle, Williams and Coen Livingstone helped their side to a 13-point lead at quarter-time, with the visitors held goalless in the first quarter.

West Coast doubled their amount of goals between half-time and the final change – the only issue was the Black Ducks tripled their own tally, booting six in the third quarter to lead by seven heading into the last term.

With the Eagles trailing in the final term, a pair of goals to Barnett narrowed the margin to five points as the hosts sensed a boilover.

Barnett’s third looked to have snatched victory, but a late Swans raid came up trumps as Cartwright side-stepped a tackle and snapped truly.

SWAN DISTRICTS 0.6 2.9 8.11 11.12 (78)

WEST COAST EAGLES 3.1 4.2 8.4 11.7 (73)

Goals – SWAN DISTRICTS: J O’Donohue 2 A Cartwright 2 J Chalcraft N Blakely W Reidy T Smith J Turner L Kickett O Harvey. WEST COAST: J Williams 3 H Barnett 3 J Petruccelle C Livingstone S Lucassen J Burke L Rawlinson.

Best – SWAN DISTRICTS: J Turner N Blakely J Cipro L Cotellessa J McLachlan M Chipper. WEST COAST: J Williams C Jamieson T Edwards-Baldwin H Barnett J Petruccelle.

Injuries – WEST COAST: D McCarthy J Prior replaced in selected side by J Williams M Champion.

Reports: C Datson (WCE) for rough conduct on B Fitzgerald (SD) in the second quarter.

Umpires: O Wharton G Simmonds J Gibb L Fahey-Gilmour. Crowd: About 1000 at Mineral Resources Park.