WEST COAST’s heart-stopping victory over Port Adelaide on Saturday has them within a sniff of securing their place in the top two, but doomsayers among the Melbourne-based media fear this might not be a good thing.

The Eagles need just one win from their last two games, against Melbourne at home this Sunday or Brisbane away in round 23, to bank a home qualifying final.

Win that and a preliminary final at Optus Stadium beckons.

The Herald Sun journalist Jay Clark holds no doubts over West Coast’s ability to win through to the big dance.

His reservations surround the long-held belief that Adam Simpson’s perform below their best at the MCG and fears the possibility of another grand final ‘fizzer’.

“They’re going to be hard to beat in Perth so they’re every chance to win two finals and make the grand final,” Clark told the SuperFooty Podcast.

“They’re in the box seat, however, there’s a part of me which dreads another West Coast grand final. We saw them a few years ago against Hawthorn and they were obliterated by half-time.

“I just don’t think they can seriously challenge Richmond at the MCG, not without Nic Nat, (Andrew) Gaff and maybe (Josh) Kennedy.”

The Eagles will have to overcome long-odds to cover the absence of three star players but on this year’s evidence, their form in Melbourne - and at the home of football - has improved significantly.

West Coast remains unbeaten from four matches in Melbourne this year (two at the MCG) and notched wins against top-four contenders Hawthorn and Collingwood on their own turf.