THE re-emergence of Jack Darling as a dominant power forward alongside a fit-again Josh Kennedy could be the key to West Coast’s premiership chances, according to Melbourne great Garry Lyon.

Darling kicked a game-high four goals in the vital win over Brisbane that set up next Saturday night’s home qualifying final against Collingwood at Optus Stadium.

It was his equal-biggest tally since a six-goal haul against Richmond in round nine.

The 26-year-old is the Eagles’ leading goal kicker this season with 42 majors in 18 games despite a mid-season hurdle when he spent a month on the sidelines with an ankle injury.

Darling was in career-best form early in the year, kicking 28 goals in the first nine rounds as the Eagles stormed to the top of the ladder.

He suffered another setback when he was concussed in a tackle against Melbourne in round 22 but showed no ill-effects against Brisbane.

“There were lots of significant things (in round 23) but the one that really caught my eye was Jack Darling getting back into form,” Lyon told SEN.

“Jack Darling, in those first six or eight weeks before he hurt himself, if he wasn’t the player of the year, he was in the top three.

“He was the dominant forward and the case could be argued that he was the dominant player in the competition.

“To have a forward in that rare mood where he could do anything, that’s why we stood up and took notice.

“Then he hurt himself, he came back and got knocked out against the Demons (in round 22).

“You just thought, 'Gee, is he going to be able to recapture (that form)?'

“Against Brisbane, he looked fantastic. He looked like he’d got his touch back, his timing.

“If he’s in that sort of nick and Josh Kennedy comes back into that side, they’re a whole different proposition.”

Dual Coleman Medal winner Kennedy is West Coast’s greatest ever goal-kicker and has led their tally in six of the last seven seasons.

However, he missed half of the 2018 home-and-away campaign through injury and has not played since round 18 because of a leg issue.

Eagles coach Adam Simpson declared the key forward certain to return against Collingwood.