Hindsight is a beautiful thing, and in the world of football, we as fans tend to get caught up in the events of days gone by.
Every footy fanatic has that one player that they long to see take the field, however long gone their days of handling a Sherrin may be.
Whether it be Daicos or Doull, Ricciuto or Richardson, fans can usually point to a single figure that captured their imagination during their formative years of watching AFL football.
SEE ALSO:ย If your AFL team could bring back one player - Part 1
SEE ALSO: If your AFL team could bring back one player - Part 2
Similar to ourย 'If your club could steal one player...'ย series, this trio of pieces will go through all 18 teams in the league, pointing at the weak spots in their best 22 and picking one of four past players to slot into their lineup and remedy their club's ailments.
We conclude today with the last six teams of the competition based on alphabetical order.
West Coastย
Option 1: Chris Judd
The greatest Eagle to grace the field, Chris Judd was unprecedentedly elite for West Coast from the get-go.
Playing as a forward before shifting back into midfield, Judd was incredibly silky and lethal with the way he moved the ball. His speed and power were often the two factors that opponents remarked on, usually after Judd had taken them to the cleaners in the prior match.
The Melbourne native won his first Brownlow in his third year of AFL football, as well as winning the Norm Smith in the following season and a flag in 2006.
Despite moving to the Blues in 2008, Judd is still incredibly popular in the West for being one of, if not the, most prolific players to ever pull on the yellow and blue.
Option 2: Peter Materaย
'Roo' Matera had Perth in the palm of his hands in the early 90s, ensnaring Eagles fans with his incredible footballing abilities.
His performance in the 1992 Grand Final that earned him a Norm Smith Medal is enshrined in West Coast history, with a five-goal display winning the match for his side and giving him permanent hero status at Subiaco Oval.
Matera earned a stunning five All-Australian selections throughout his 253 game career, as well as two flags, including the aforementioned 1992 inaugural premiership.
Although he was hellbent on moving to Melbourne in the latter stages of his career, Matera stuck with the Eagles and retired a club great.
Option 3: Ben Cousins
If we're looking at pure on-field brilliance, Ben Cousins had it in droves.
Although Chris Judd was a superstar, Cousins was revered differently in Western Australia when he was in his prime - affectionately being named 'The Prince of Perth'. Starting off his career as a forward, he was moved into his natural midfield berth where he wowed fans with his speed, skill and accuracy of delivery.
Cousins earned a staggering six All-Australian selections over the course of his 238 game West Coast career, winning a Brownlow in 2005 before his first and only premiership in 2006.
There need be no explanation for what ensued following the Eagles successful 2006 campaign, however, if we're only examining his on-field effect, then there is no denying that there probably never will be a player who creates such a stir as Cousins did.
Option 4: Glen Jakovich
Before the likes of Jeremy McGovern and Darren Glass, there was Glen Jakovich who was the main man in the Eagles back-six.
His tussles with North Melbourne superstar Wayne Carey were legendary, with the West Coast defender getting the better of Carey on multiple occasions. Jakovich's reading of the game and physical size meant that Carey wasn't the only forward to be blanketed by the defender more than once.
A dual premiership player for the Eagles, Jakovich won four club best-and-fairests and two All-Australian blazers over the course of his 276-game career, demonstrating the elite level of performance that he brought to Perth week in week out.
Verdict
With the ageing lineup of the Eagles, there is a need for a breath of fresh air injected into the side. Although in this hypothetical universe, the 'brought back' players would ideally be in their prime, Chris Judd's sheer dominance would be ideal for the Eagles as they look to transition to a new generation of talent.
His accuracy of delivery would mean that the likes of Oscar Allen and Josh Kennedy (for the very near future) would be served balls on a silver platter and that Nic Naitanui wouldn't need to do a tonne of clearance work with Judd being able to do it all in his prime.
