A pair of AFL experts have handed West Coast coach Andrew McQualter a pass mark for his side’s 2026 season, despite their campaign being closed out on an 11-game losing streak.

After notching only a solitary win in 2025, the Eagles claimed four victories this year, but none after they defeated Essendon in round 12.

They were locked into a 16th-placed finish regardless of the result of their season-ending clash with Hawthorn at Optus Stadium on Sunday night, in which their run of losses rolled on with a 62-point thrashing.

Channel Seven expert Kane Cornes said he graded McQualter’s efforts as “not a convincing pass, but a pass”, which two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King agreed with.

“He comes into the last year of his three-year contract. I think you need five years, so he’s not in danger of losing his job,” Cornes told SEN.

With last year’s No.1 pick Willem Duursma and No.4 selection Cooper Duff-Tytler completing their first AFL seasons alongside a young core headlined by rising superstar Harley Reid and emerging key forward Jobe Shanahan, Cornes said West Coast’s list manager Matt Clarke had done a “very good job”.

“They’ve got key posts set for the next 10 years. Look at how many clubs need a key forward or a key back. This club needs none of that,” he said.

“They’ve got (Willem) Duursma and (Harley) Reid through the midfield, but they just need to get more experience through that midfield, they desperately need another elite small forward or two and some role players through there, but their key position stocks are absolutely set.

“It’s easy to do when you’ve got a lot of picks up the top (of the draft), but they’ve also nailed them at the back end of the draft, which is important as well. (Jobe) Shanahan can be anything — pick 30 in 2024, what a pick that was.”

King said the club’s up-and-coming stars “have got a huge pre-season opportunity in front of them” over the coming months.

“I’m looking forward to those photos in February, and seeing whether Shanahan’s put on six or seven kilos, seeing whether Harley Reid has shaped again to become the pure professional package and does Duursma put on some size,” King said.

“I’m really excited about the fact they’ve got their torch-bearers. I think the Slight Delight (Duursma) and Reid, they’re going to drive this footy club back to finals and premiership contention.

“It is hard to find these guys — you can go for years and not find the guy to stand out in front of your group. Harley Reid is that guy, isn’t he?”