Andrew McQualter upbeat despite West Coast facing AFL’s biggest season-opening challenge in more than a decade

It’s the biggest ‘Mission: Impossible’ season opener in recent memory.

The flag favourites, at their home fortress and battle-hardened from last week’s Opening Round hit-out, up against last year’s wooden spooners who are missing a string of first-choice players.

It looms as a true baptism of fire for West Coast’s gaggle of league and club debutants as they begin life in blue-and-gold, and bookmakers agree.

The Eagles are a $15 long-shot against the Suns, with the line of 65.5 points the greatest in a Round 1 or Opening Round clash on record for TabTouch, dating back to 2013.

It surpasses the previous mark for a season-opening fixture from 2016, where West Coast - then fresh off a grand final appearance - were a 58.5 point favourite at home against Brisbane that had finished second-bottom before winning by 64.

Gold Coast have turned People First Stadium into a fortress since Damien Hardwick arrived as coach, with victories in 15 of 19 matches at the venue since the start of 2024.

The Suns have averaged a whopping 96.4 points per game in that span, utilising their familiarity with the often humid conditions to run opponents off their feet.

Conversely, West Coast are winless in their past five tries against the Suns at Carrara, with their sole road win against the expansion club coming in 2014.

Eagles coach Andrew McQualter — a long-time member of Suns mentor Damien Hardwick’s staff at Richmond — said his team wouldn’t be daunted by the size of the task.

“We had our oppo meeting (on Thursday) and we’ve set our plans for the way we’re going to go about beating them. And every team is capable of being beaten,” he said.

“We’re certainly optimistic that we’re going to go up there and give it a real shake.

“It’s a massive challenge. They played a great brand of football last week (against Geelong). They had the game on their terms for most of that game and it provides us with a great challenge.

“Last year in round two we went over to the Gabba and faced Brisbane. So we understand the conditions this time of the year in south-east Queensland and we’re looking forward to it.”

Further adding to West Coast’s challenge is the unfavourable round-one history of teams who played in Opening Round clashing against teams who sat idle. Clubs that were in action the week prior have notched six wins from eight such games.

Asked about the disadvantage of not playing in Opening Round when their opponents were, McQualter said: “I understand the history behind it and the results behind it, but it is what it is.

“It’s our first game, we’re incredibly excited for that. There will be a bubble at today’s training session which there always is before your round one game and it’s something we really look forward to.”

While long-time Eagles tormentor Matt Rowell won’t feature due to his finger injury, West Coast will have their hands full trying to stop Suns recruit Christian Petracca after he last week produced a blistering display in his first game since crossing from Melbourne.

McQualter would not reveal whether they would tag the Norm Smith medallist fresh off his three-goal, 34-disposal masterclass against Geelong.

“You look at the Gold Coast and who do you choose who to tag? They’ve got so many players who are highly talented, highly capable,” McQualter said.

“It’s not an easy decision and we’ll have to work our way through that.”

West Coast will also have to try to stop the Suns’ formidable forward line that features spearhead Ben King and excitement machine Bailey Humphrey who are both fresh off four goal performances against the Cats on Friday night.

“I don’t think you can get too caught up in match-ups against the Gold Coast Suns,” McQualter said.

“It’s going to be a system that gets it done and ultimately to stop any forward line you need great pressure on the ball, so that’ll be one thing we go after.”