GOOD support starts at home and for the West Coast Eagles, some of their closest neighbours have helped turn the streets of Victoria Park blue and gold to encourage their heroes on Saturday afternoon.
Students from Lathlain Primary and St Clare’s School, about a torpedo punt from the Eagles new home base in Lathlain, used chalk to colour the pavement outside local cafe Laika on Thursday morning.
Others soon joined in chalked messages of support, such as “Go Shuey”, “JK 5 goals” and the club’s mantra “It’s time to fly”.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWWest Coast’s 2006 premiership player and current manager of game development Adam Selwood was there and he almost gave away the biggest team secret of the week – the name of the player who would replace injured defender Brad Sheppard – when he started writing the Eagles starting 18 by position.
As expected, veteran Will Schofield was named later in the day as the only change to the line-up from the side that defeated Collingwood two weeks ago.
More blue and yellow chalk was spread later outside The Broken Hill Hotel and the Balmoral Hotel, with ex-Eagles Sam Butler, Drew Petrie and Ross Glendinning all joining in.
West Coast play Melbourne Demons for a spot in the AFL Grand Final on Saturday afternoon at Optus Stadium.
Whoever wins will play the winner of tonight’s other preliminary final between Richmond and Collingwood.