A few home truths and a haircut have been nominated by David Wirrpanda as some of the ingredients that have helped the West Coast defender reach 200 matches.

On the eve of reaching the milestone against Adelaide, Wirrpanda has admitted he came close to leaving Perth and returning to Victoria after only playing 12 matches in his first three seasons.

But the 28-year-old said that being pulled aside by then skipper - and now coach - John Worsfold, along with Dean Kemp, Peter Matera and Brett Heady, and being told a few home truths set him on the path to becoming the longest-serving Eagle on the club's current playing list.

"They all got me in the room and pretty much told me what the expectations are and what they demand as a West Coast Eagles footballer," said Wirrpanda on Thursday.

"And, it was pretty hard to take because I kinda cruised through the first two years ... and that was the turning point I think, because the following year I really committed to a pre-season and really wanted to be a part of the team."

"That kinda hurt me because I was being told ... where I stood in the footy club and I wanted to be sure that I was strong enough to prove them wrong and be part of the team."

Recruited as a 16-year-old by the Eagles in 1996, Wirrpanda struggled with injury and form during his first three seasons before cementing his place in the Eagles' backline during 1999, where he slotted into the void left by veteran David Hart who had retired at the end of 1997.

However, he said the pressures of being a teenager in a new city took their toll.

"That was probably the hardest phase of my footy career," he said.

"Not playing footy and being at the footy club, the hardest part for a young bloke is, you come here to train, you're out on the track for two hours and then you go home and you've got the rest of your time to kill."

"And that's where you've got the thinking time, of addressing yourself and really getting homesick."

"I probably got caught up reading a lot of negative press about myself. At the time I really felt uncomfortable and wanted to go home. And, I thought to myself 'just don't read the papers too much, don't look into it a lot, just go home and train as hard as