West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett's 20-year reign in charge of the AFL powerhouse has encompassed the highest of highs and lowest of lows.
But as the Eagles celebrate their fourth premiership on the back of an AFL-era record 22nd finals' appearance, the 61-year-old is planning for an eventual departure safe in the knowledge that the club is primed for further success.
Saturday's heart-stopping grand final win over Collingwood capped off a remarkable campaign for a side that few had expected to challenge for the flag.
West Coast overcame the loss of star players Nic Naitanui (knee) and Andrew Gaff (suspension) while the premiership comes a year after coach Adam Simpson was under pressure to keep his job.
Watching on as the Eagles celebrated, Nisbett reflected on the club's continued on-field success.
"Sometimes we get it wrong, like most clubs, but we've able to maintain a level for a long period of time which has been very satisfying," Nisbett told AAP.
"It's a bit surreal at the moment but we built a team on mateship and resilience and they showed that resilience right to the end.
"They've done that a lot this year. We've really fought back hard and just played the games out.
"It starts with the recruiting and the list management, they get the right boys with the right frame of mind that we can then develop. They were really good today against a really good team."
The Eagles also blooded eight debutants in 2018 and Nisbett was particularly proud to see the club win seven games on the road despite a heavy travel burden.
West Coast are the first interstate team to defeat a Victorian rival in a grand final since Sydney beat Hawthorn in 2012.
Swans chief Andrew Ireland is understood to be in favour of introducing a best-of-three grand final structure to level the playing field - a proposal reportedly backed by Adelaide coach Don Pyke following the Crows' grand-final loss to Richmond.
"I don't think they'll do that, I think the format's set," Nisbett said.
"It's very difficult for a club from Perth to play a best-of-three series, very, very difficult."
The Eagles have matched their on-field success with incredible commercial results but Nisbett has also overseen major low points such as the illicit drugs scandal which had ruinous effects on Ben Cousins and a raft of other players.
Nisbett's tenure at the club is winding down but he intends to oversee next year's move to a new training base and the establishment of a stand-alone WAFL team.
"I'll stay on for a couple of weeks at least," he joked.
"We'll get out to Lathlain, get a team in the WAFL, do a few other projects we've got on the go and then I'll talk to the directors after that."
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