Early career LeCras was recruited by the
West Coast Eagles with the 37th pick overall in the
2004 National Draft. After spending the first half of the season with West Perth, He made his debut for West Coast in round 10 of the
2005 AFL season, kicking two goals and recording 12 disposals. He played one more game before being dropped back to the WAFL, where he played the rest of the season. He was recalled in 2006 for the Round 14 clash against Hawthorn, but only managed a total of 16 disposals in two games before being dropped and recalled for the Round 22 demolition of Richmond, where LeCras put in a surprise performance, booting 5 goals. LeCras placed fourth in the Sandover medal for the best player in the WAFL in 2006. The award was won by fellow West Coast Eagle player
Matt Priddis. He fought his way back into the team in 2007, and had a stellar season, kicking 36 goals for the season. In 2009, Mark LeCras kicked 58 goals in the home-and-away season, leaving him in
All-Australian contention. Ultimately he missed out on selection. In round 13, 2009, he scored his 100th AFL career goal in West Coast's 20-point win against Hawthorn at Subiaco Oval. For the overall 2009 season, LeCras became the most potent forward in the team kicking 30 goals in the first 12 rounds, and 58 for the season, topping the Eagles' goalkicking list.
2010: All-Australian In round 16 of 2010, LeCras kicked a personal best of 12 goals, doubling his previous record of 6, in an outstanding individual display against Essendon at
Etihad Stadium. It broke the previous record of 11 (kicked by
Stephen Milne) for the most goals kicked by an individual in a game at the stadium. This was one of a few highlights in a dark season for the Eagles in which they won the
wooden spoon for the first time in its history. The performance also earned LeCras 226 points in the Herald Sun Supercoach competition, the highest score for the 2010 season. LeCras later finished Third in the
Coleman Medal with 63 goals from 21 games, behind
Jack Riewoldt and
Barry Hall. On 10 September 2010, LeCras was awarded the "prestigious" award of the West Coast Eagles Club Champion. On 13 September, LeCras was selected at forward-pocket in the 2010
All-Australian team, the only player from the West Coast Eagles in the team. He was also nominated as one of the three contenders for
goal of the year for his effort against
Essendon in
Round 16, one of twelve goals scored on the night, eventually losing out to
Lance Franklin for the award.
2011–2012: Midfield move and injury After a strong pre-season, LeCras ruptured his
anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) at a West Coast training session in February 2012, and was ruled out for the remainder of the season, opting to undergo a full
knee reconstruction.
2015: Return to form and Grand Final Heartache 2015 would see Mark LeCras to form as a small forward. Mark went onto kick 45 goals for the season. In the 2015 AFL Grand Final between the West Coast Eagles Football Club and Hawthorn Football Club Mark would only kick one goal. Hawthorn Football Club won by 46 points. The 2015 would be Mark's first Grand Final appearance as a player. After being on the West Coast Eagles list when the West Coast Eagles lost the 2005 Grand Final and won the 2006 Grand Final. The 2018 Grand Final was Mark's second Grand Final appearance.
2017–2018: Later years and premiership Against
Port Adelaide in round seven of the
2017 AFL season, LeCras kicked his 390th career goal, breaking
Phil Matera's club record for the most goals kicked by a small forward. He kicked his 400th career goal in the round 17
Western Derby against
Fremantle, in his 190th game, becoming only the third West Coast player to reach the milestone (after
Peter Sumich and
Josh Kennedy). LeCras had an improved season and defied many critics who thought he had nothing left to give. He finished his career on a high with being part of the West Coast Eagles' premiership winning team in 2018, and announced his retirement after the AFL trade period. In 2019, LeCras signed with West Coast's fierce local rivals,
Fremantle, as a part-time specialist forwards coach, for the
2020 AFL season.
Honours and achievements Team •
AFL premiership player: (
West Coast Eagles)
2018 •
McClelland Trophy (
West Coast Eagles)
2006 Individual •
All-Australian team: 2010 •
West Coast Eagles Club Champion Award: 2010 • 2×
West Coast Eagles leading goalkicker: 2009, 2010 •
AFL Rising Star nominee: 2006, 2007 • Under-18 All-Australian team: 2004 • Western Australia Under-18 team: 2004 ==Statistics==