Chris Judd Leads West Coast Eagles 2006 Reunion at Optus Stadium
West Coast Eagles 2006 reunion took over Optus Stadium on Saturday as Chris Judd, Ben Cousins, Andrew Embley and Michael Braun returned to mark 20 years since the club’s grand final win over Sydney. The celebration came on a day when West Coast lost to Richmond by 11 points, leaving the anniversary tribute as the clearest positive from the afternoon.
Optus Stadium salutes 2006
The former premiership players formed a guard of honour as the current team walked through the banner, then came back onto the field for a lap of honour at half time. Fans on the boundary touched the cup and took selfies during the break, turning the tribute into a brief open field moment for those closest to the action.
That ceremony tied the present team to the group that won the 2006 premiership against Sydney, and it brought several of the key figures back to the same venue where supporters could see them together again. The reunion also put Tyson Stenglein back in the conversation through Judd’s comments, even though he was not listed among the players who returned to the field.
Judd on the catch-up
At half time, Judd said the boys enjoyed the catch-up and described the reunion this way: “It’s like going back in a time machine, it’s been a lot of fun,”
He added: “Braun is in very good nick, and Tyson Stenglein hasn’t aged a day, and Ben Cousins is still looking fighting fit.”
Those remarks framed the day around the people who made the 2006 flag matter in the first place. The current result did not match the celebration, but the 11-point loss and the anniversary tribute sat side by side at Optus Stadium, with the old guard given the louder moment.
Richmond leaves with the result
Richmond’s 11-point win ended the day’s football on the scoreboard, while the reunion carried the emotional weight in the stands and on the boundary. For West Coast fans, the practical takeaway was simple: the club’s 2006 heroes were back on the field together, and Saturday’s half-time ceremony gave them a rare chance to see that group in one place again.
