Pre-season 1987

West Coast made their first appearance in the VFL competition in the 1987 Panasonic Cup, defeating Footscray in their first match and eventually winning through to the semi-finals.

Format[]

The knockout night series was played generally on Tuesday nights at Waverley Park (then known as VFL Park), beginning in March and carrying on during the home-and-away season with the grand final being played in late April.

In previous seasons, teams from the WAFL and SANFL joined the VFL sides in the competition, but this did not occur in 1987 after the admission of West Coast and Brisbane into the league.

The 1987 competition was the last to encroach into the season proper, with the Panasonic Cup becoming exclusively a pre-season competition from 1988.

Round 1[]

Footscray v West Coast

Tue, 3 March 1987

Waverley Park

Attendance: 4,599

		1/4 time		1/2 time		3/4 time		Final
Footscray		3.4.22		8.6.54		8.10.58		8.10.58
West Coast		1.2.8		2.4.16		4.8.32		12.15.87

Goals: Keene, Malaxos 3, Annear 2, Barich, Lewis, Mifka, O'Connell

Best: Malaxos, O'Connell, Lewis, Peos, Ishchenko, Brennan

Injuries: Nil

West Coast gave a good account of themselves in their first hitout against VFL opposition, overcoming a shaky start to overrun the Bulldogs in the second half. Former Hawk Steve Malaxos was best-on-ground in his return to the VFL and Laurie Keene kicked three goals after moving forward after half-time.

Named squad: Matera, Mainwaring, Glendinning, Lamb, Miles, Malaxos, Brennan, Laidley, Annear, MacNish, Peos, O'Connell, Bartlett, Worsfold, Keene, Ishchenko, Lewis, Holmes, Hart, Mifka, Barich

Emergencies: Langsford, Gastev

Footscray: Atkins, Bamblett, D.Baxter, P.Baxter, Beasley, B.Cordy, Cronan, Egan, Eppelstun, Evans, Ford, Groenewegen, Kellett, McGuinness, McLean, Moloney, Petraglia, Purser, Rance, Royal, Wallis

Emergencies: Cullen, Fitzpatrick, Kennedy, Somerville, Wright

Quarter final[]

Fitzroy v West Coast

Sat, 21 March 1987

Waverley Park

Attendance: 5,047

		1/4 time		1/2 time		3/4 time		Final
Fitzroy		4.1.25		6.1.37		9.2.56		10.4.64
West Coast		0.3.3		3.5.23		7.12.54		12.15.87

Goals: Bennett, MacNish 3, Barich, Keene, Laidley, Lamb, Matera, Narkle

Best: Annear, Glendinning, Keene, Zanotti, Bennett, Brennan

Injuries: Nil

Semi final[]

Essendon v West Coast

Tue, 14 April 1987

Waverley Park

Attendance: 6.928

		1/4 time		1/2 time		3/4 time		Final
Essendon		5.4.34		11.6.72		17.9.111		22.16.148
West Coast		0.0.0		0.1.1		1.7.13		5.10.40

Goals: Wiley 2, Annear, Lamb, Zanotti

Best: Malaxos, Mainwaring, Hart, Bartlett

Injuries: Nil

West Coast, playing just two days after hosting Sydney at Subiaco, were on the receiving end of a thumping from the Bombers, managing just one goal in the first three quarters.

Named squad: Wiley, Mainwaring, Lamb, Miles, Malaxos, O'Loughlin, Turner, Brennan, Annear, Langsford, Bennett, Peos, O'Connell, Bartlett, Worsfold, Ishchenko, Zanotti, King, Hart, Mifka, Lockyer

Essendon: Salmon, Baker, Stubbs, Cunningham, Considine, Irwin, T.Daniher, Clarke, Heard, Foulds, Clark, Elshaug, Ezard, Hamilton, Francis, Vander Haar, Barnes, Winton, Merrett, Thompson, Flood, N.Walsh, K.Walsh, Bailey, Keane, Williams