The Eagles were insipid on the weekend — and their form slump is highlighted by one worrying trend

If a week is a long time in football, a year is an eternity.

And that is exactly what Sydney proved yesterday when they demolished an insipid West Coast in Geelong.

Exactly one year ago, West Coast went to Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast and easily accounted for the Swans by 34 points.

The Eagles went on to finish the season in fifth, while the Swans were only better than North Melbourne and Adelaide.

They ended up with a percentage of just 82 as they finished in 16th.

2021 has been a completely different story.

John Longmire has resurrected his side — nine wins to date, a percentage of 114.5, sixth on the ladder and almost certainly finals bound.

Adam Simpson faces a very different scenario.

The Eagles have been, under his guidance, an extremely efficient side.

On their way to the 2018 premiership, West Coast was the third-lowest possession side in the AFL, but the highest marking.

They were the seventh-most attacking side, going inside 50 a total of 53 times a game, but were the best in the league at turning those entries into goals.

Obviously, this is not the same side that won the flag three years ago.

Some of the names are the same, and the traits remain the same, but the outcomes don’t.

They are still the most accurate and efficient side in the competition, but are now only better than Hawthorn and Collingwood at going inside 50.

They have also lost three games by more than 50 points this season, including two 90-point hidings.

And two of those defeats came in consecutive weeks.

In 2017 they lost three matches by more than 50 as well, but the worst of those was 67 points.

Prior to that, they hadn’t suffered a 50-point defeat three times in a season since 2013.

It’s a worrying trend for a side that doesn’t generate a large amount of opportunities.

The Eagles have a friendly run home, with only two current top eight sides waiting in their remaining seven games, but on recent showings it would be brave to back them to beat anyone other than North Melbourne, who they host next weekend at home.