WEST Coast will take powerful form into next Saturday night's semi-final against Collingwood at the MCG after eliminating North Melbourne with a stunning 96-point win at Patersons Stadium.
Heavy favourites going into Sunday's knockout final, the Eagles kicked the first nine goals of the game in an opening ambush that left the Kangaroos shell-shocked.
The visitors rallied briefly in the third quarter, but they collapsed in the final term, the Eagles kicking nine of the last 10 goals and eventually winning 24.18 (162) to 9.12 (66).
It was their highest score in a final and their biggest September win, eclipsing the 80-point Grand Final triumph against Geelong in 1994.
West Coast's second finals win since its 2006 premiership came at a cost, however, with vice-captain Beau Waters suffering a right foot injury that is likely to rule him out of the Magpies clash.
Waters was carried from the ground early in the second quarter and replaced by substitute Jacob Brennan shortly after. The extent of his injury was unclear.
Young forward Jack Darling grew in stature in his fourth final, booting four goals against opponent Michael Firrito, including three in the first quarter.
Norm Smith medallist Andrew Embley also rose on the September stage, kicking four goals and finishing with 11 inside 50s. He was one of 13 goalkickers in a dominant display.
North Melbourne was playing in its first final since 2008, and the gap in finals experience was obvious from the opening bounce, with the Eagles building a 43-point lead at the first break.
Kangaroos coach Brad Scott had suggested his team's running game would be suited to Patersons Stadium, but they were shutdown at the coalface by a ruthless West Coast midfield.
Ruckmen Nic Naitanui and Dean Cox, who was playing his 250th game, were dominant, giving their team a 62-29 edge in hit-outs against Todd Goldstein.
Daniel Kerr was brilliant in the clinches, winning 14 of his 28 possessions in contests, while Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff and Chris Masten were electric on the outside.
North Melbourne midfielders Andrew Swallow and Jack Ziebell were brave, but the visitors had few winners on a disappointing day.
Veteran Brent Harvey could end his season on a sour note after he floored Kerr in an off-the-ball incident that is certain to be scrutinised.
WEST COAST 7.4 11.8 15.11 24.18 (162)
NORTH MELBOURNE 0.3 2.8 8.10 9.12 (66)
GOALS
West Coast: Darling 4, Embley 4, Kennedy 4, Lynch 3, Hill, Mackenzie, Shuey, McGinnity, Masten, Cox, Naitanui, Hurn, Kerr
North Melbourne: Campbell 3, Harvey 3, Hansen, Cunnington, Petrie
BEST
West Coast: Darling, Embley, Naitanui, Kerr, Cox, S. Selwood, Butler, Hurn
North Melbourne: Swallow, Ziebell, Campbell, Cunnington, Thompson
INJURIES
West Coast: Beau Waters (right foot)
North Melbourne: Nil
SUBSTITUTES
West Coast: Beau Waters replaced by Jacob Brennan in the second quarter
North Melbourne: Robbie Tarrant replaced by Kieran Harper in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Donlon, McBurney, Jeffery
Official crowd: 41,790 at Patersons Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
