The end of 2013 was a pivotal time at West Coast.

The Eagles had finished 13th on the ladder after a final round 86-point loss to Adelaide at Subiaco.

It was one of several heavy defeats late in the season, which ultimately saw club legend John Worsfold quit as coach.

It ended his long association with West Coast, which he led to the 2006 flag and captained in the 1992 and 1994 premiership years.

And with bitter cross-town rival Fremantle preparing for a finals series, there was a definite power shift towards the port city.

The Dockers made their first grand final that season and were unlucky to lose to Hawthorn.

Nat Fyfe was the best player in the game, and Ross Lyon was in the conversation as best coach.

Whoever took on the job at West Coast had a big job in filling the void left by Worsfold, and meeting the massive expectations that accompanied being the face of one of the highest profile organisations in Western Australia.

Adam Simpson is creating his own legacy at West Coast. ( ABC News: Rebecca Trigger )

The man anointed was Adam Simpson, a Hawthorn assistant under Alastair Clarkson and a 306-game, two-time premiership player with North Melbourne.

His first media conference in October 2013 was mostly dealing with questions about how he could ever measure up to the man he was replacing.

Good strike rate

But almost five years into his tenure, Simpson has done an excellent job of creating his own legacy at West Coast.

In fact, if you compare the winning percentages of Simpson (63.5 per cent) and Worsfold (50.6 per cent), he has the now-Bombers coach well and truly covered.

Simpson and the Eagles have been a perfect match. ( AAP: David Mariuz )

He even has a slightly better strike rate than his former mentor Clarkson, who is widely regarded as one of the great coaches of the modern era. But the big difference is that 42-year-old Simpson is yet to win a flag.

The Eagles made the grand final in 2015, and are well positioned for another tilt this season, despite some pundits having tipped the club for the wooden spoon.

"He's well and truly a West Coast man now," explained West Coast vice-captain Luke Shuey.

"He's been able to do wonderful things for the footy club and hopefully as a playing group we can repay him with a premiership sometime soon.

"He goes about his business and quietly gets the job done.

"He's a wonderful coach and super switched on and in tune with the game, and where the game's going, and couldn't love playing for him more."

This season is one of Simpson's best chances to bring home a flag. ( AAP: Tracey Nearmy )

It has so far been the perfect match for both the Eagles and Simpson.

The club is happy, as evidenced by the new deal he has just signed which is set to keep him in the west until at least the end of 2022, after he steered the Eagles through a challenging but so far successful campaign.

Premiership in sight

He has managed to get the best out of his list, particularly this season.

If a measure of a great coach is getting the most out your playing group, Simpson is one of the best around.

A quick scan of the Eagles squad shows most players are reaching or have reached their potential.

Four years is an eternity in football, but if Simpson makes it through to 2022, he will be in Worsfold and Mick Malthouse territory in terms of time served as West Coast coach.

Both of those men are famous figures and premiership heroes at the Eagles — whether Simpson can join them will depend on his ability to bring home the club's fourth flag — and with two home finals this year, it is one of the best opportunities he will get.