There is a pattern that repeats itself throughout the history of the Western Suburbs club, in which, first, the club builds itself up into a position of enviable strength - and then it unravels. The unravelling has seldom been as sudden or dramatic as it was in the seasons after 1987. Of the eleven players who performed so well in the frustrating semi-final of March 1987, only one was still in the Wests First Grade side at the start of 1990-91.

There were any number of reasons for the exodus of players, and some were unavoidable. Dirk Wellham, David Gilbert and Scott Hookey all elected to accept offers to play for Tasmania, Chris Killen agreed to appear for South Australia

https://www.cricconnect.com/profile/161/western-suburbs-district-cricket-club-sydney/blog/3112/chapter-twenty-four-a-perceived-lack-of-loyalty