'Absolutely no chance': James Hird shuts down West Coast suggestion amid 'miserable' season
James Hird has shut down suggestions that West Coast deserve a priority pick in the next AFL draft and urged the club to "get themselves out" of their messy situation.
It has been a dire few years for the Eagles, who are stranded on the bottom of the table with just one win for the season and look destined to stay there.
Things reached rock bottom over the weekend when the Eagles were humiliated by fellow cellar dwellers Richmond, falling by 49 points at Optus Stadium.
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Their well-documented issues have led to question marks over their next draft strategy, with Nine's Tom Morris raising the potential that the club could be granted a priority pick.
Harley Reid and the Eagles make their way off the field. Getty
"They are having a miserable season," he said on Nine's Footy Furnace.
"The fans keep turning up. They have had a shocking few years - ever since 2022, their record is poor. They are 11-76 from their past 87 games.
"The question [of a priority pick] will be asked now, probably by the Eagles to the AFL."
But according to Hird, the club's battles on the field shouldn't fall on the shoulders of those at headquarters, instead placing the blame firmly at West Coast's feet.
"Absolutely no chance," the Essendon great said.
"They are the most powerful and richest team in the whole competition.
"They've got themselves in that position, there's no way ... they've got to get themselves out of it. Other teams don't have the resources that West Coast have."
West Coast star Harley Reid chats with coach Andrew McQualter Getty
Geelong champion Jimmy Bartel echoed those same sentiments and pointed out the financial position of the Eagles.
"They could probably buy the next licence, they've got that much money," he said.
West Coast have had their fair share of top picks in recent seasons, with Harley Reid selected at No.1 overall two years ago and Jack Hutchinson at No.3 overall last year.
