Jakovich: One flag at at a time

GLEN Jakovich cautions there are no guarantees for the reigning premiers in 2019, but they deserve immense praise for the courage that delivered West Coast a fourth flag.

Jakovich was part of the Eagles’ 1992 and ’94 premiership outfits while he also won four best-and-fairest awards.

The gun centre half-back was at the MCG on Saturday, when the Eagles conceded the opening five goals of the Grand Final then bounced back to edge Collingwood by five points.

West Coast has produced some dominant forces and achieved plenty in some 32 VFL/AFL seasons, reaching seven grand finals, but are yet to go back-to-back.

“You never say it’s the start of a dynasty. Never. Because you’ve got to earn that,” Jakovich said.

“Hawthorn can now say they started a dynasty. Because they played in four consecutive grand finals.

“The reality is they could finish outside the top eight next year. Not because they haven’t got the talent or hunger, just because the competition is so fierce.

“There’s no guarantees, but what is of crucial importance is that when you get to a grand final, you’ve got to win them.”

That didn’t transpire for the Eagles in 2015, when they were hammered by Hawthorn.

More than half of that vanquished side returned to the home of football this weekend and left with a premiership medal.

“It’s vindication ... 12 of them played in that horror story. They righted the wrong,” Jakovich said.

“They were epic. It was a slow start but they hung in there and showed courage.

“They always believed they could win the premiership. They were awesome.”