Eagles fan shows off '2018 premiers' tattoo – but is it real?

A West Coast fan has gone early on celebrating his side’s appearance in the AFL grand final, apparently getting a tattoo commemorating their ‘premiership win’ over Collingwood.

Lincoln Latter shared a photo on his Facebook page on Monday night to the shock of his friends:

The caption read: “Confidence is key #itstimetofly”.

Multiple comments jumped on board Latter’s bandwagon:

“F*** yeah Linc,” wrote one friend. Another: “Yesssss legend!”.

Asked if he really got the tattoo, Latter replied with a simple message: “Nothing to lose.”

One superstitious friend wanted it to be fake: I hope that’s not a real tat you doof. WA needs the win, don’t you dare jinx it Linc!”

Insane stat suggests Pies will beat the Eagles to win the flag

West Coast must defy AFL history to win their finals rematch with Collingwood in next weekend’s grand final.

The Eagles thrashed Melbourne in Perth on Saturday afternoon to book their chance at a first premiership since 2006.

However, prior results suggest West Coast might not come away victorious against the team they beat in the qualifying final two weeks ago.

Since the top-eight system was introduced in 1994, just four grand finals have featured a repeat match-up from earlier in the finals series – and the loser of the first battle has won each time.

The first came in 2003, when Brisbane reversed their defeat to the Pies in the qualifying final with victory in the grand final.

In 2005 and 2006 the Eagles and Sydney Swans played each other in the finals four times. West Coast then Sydney won the qualifying finals but the grand finals went the other way.

Nine years later the Eagles defeated Hawthorn in the first week and met again in the grand final, but the Hawks won their third premiership in a row.

So is it definitely Collingwood’s flag to lose next Saturday?

Perhaps not.

In 1992, when there was a top-six system in place, West Coast beat the minor premiers Geelong in the major semi-final to reach the grand final – and then beat them again to win the premiership.