Mark Lecras Biography

Mark LeCras rescues of two people moments before a third died in a horrifying car crash in Perth.

LeCras was travelling in the opposite direction when he saw a car veer from the road into bushland on the Great Eastern Highway on Wednesday night.

Rushing to the scene, LeCras helped in pulling two people from the front of the car but was unable to save the third from the rear before the car caught fire, according to multiple reports in Perth.

The two passengers who were rescued were taken to Royal Perth Hospital and were in a stable condition.

Mark LeCras announces his retirement from AFL football fresh from being part of the Eagles' 2018 premiership-winning campaign.

"I couldn't be happier after playing in a winning Grand Final with so many blokes who will be mates for the rest of my life," LeCras said.

"The last few weeks have been something really special and I'll never forget the feeling when the final siren sounded.

"I was starting to wonder whether I'd ever get the chance to experience the elation that I have heard so many other players talk about.

"It's everything they said and a little more."

Mark LeCras will be sidelined for a yet-to-be-determined period after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his injured right wrist.

The 31-year-old, who underwent surgery on the same wrist earlier in his career, suffered the injury during the Eagles' loss to Essendon last week.

"(His wrist) is a bit loose. We'll let that settle down and see what comes from it. It's a bit early to tell what the damage is," West Coast coach Adam Simpson said.

Mark LeCras says having a chat with Eagles teammate Josh Kennedy helped to convince him to play on in 2018 after having endured heavy criticism on his form in 2017.

"He's good like that. He's someone that I'm really honest with. He's one of my best mates," LeCras said of Kennedy.

"It was a funny year going through the ups and downs. I definitely had some thoughts about my future.

"But I've got some guys who I talk to throughout the footy club and who I'm really confident with their opinions and that's probably what convinced me to want to keep playing."

West Coast re-signs veterans Mark LeCras and Eric Mackenzie on one-year deals.

"We are pleased that both players have re-signed and will be a part of our 2018 campaign," Eagles football manager Craig Vozzo said.

"Mark is one of the smartest forwards in the game and Eric finished the season strongly as part of our defensive structure, so it will be great to have their experience and ability as part of the squad for at least one more season."

Commentator David King calls for Mark LeCras to never play again after West Coast's defeat to Collingwood, but Eagles coach Adam Simpson has refused to fire back.

"They're irrelevant to me what David says about my players," Simpson said.

"The ball is in Lecca's court.

"He's done a lot for our club. He's been an A-grade talent and an A-grade player. To talk about his future publicly, I think that's disrespectful."

Mark LeCras is facing several weeks on the sidelines after succumbing to a hip complaint that West Coast coach Adam Simpson admits has affected the sharpshooter's form.

"He's just not playing at a level that he can hold his position in the side with carrying that injury as well, he can't get to his best," Simpson said.

"We need to shut him down for a week or two and build him back up."

Simon Tunbridge is on track to start running again in the next two weeks as he recovers from radical knee surgery.

Tunbridge became the first Eagle to undergo a hybrid LARS repair last month after rupturing his left ACL in an innocuous training incident.

After consulting surgeons and his teammates, he opted for the non-traditional knee reconstruction in a bid to get back on the field for a make-or-break 2017 season.

"I met with the surgeons, I met with the footy club and also had a chat to Eric Mackenzie, Nic Nat (Naitanui) and Mark LeCras as well, because they’ve all been through knee reconstructions," Tunbridge said.

"My dad probably copped the brunt of it all, but he was good. He wanted me to go down this path, so that’s where I’m at.

"I finally met the surgeons and on the last day I had to make a decision. They got me across the line (regarding the hybrid LARS option) and they seemed pretty confident that they’d have a good result.

"I should be back playing footy this year, so that’s probably the main thing that got me across this line."

After the disappointment of being part of West Coast's 46-point Grand Final loss to the Hawks, Mark LeCras says he found joy in his daughter Molly trying to make him smile in the change rooms.

Less than a month after the Grand Final, the 29-year-old and wife Emily welcomed a second child – a son this time, Rex.

"That’s the best thing about having a kid, they cheer you up so much when you win or when you lose," he said.

"You can get away from it when you see your kid and they’re just fun to be around.

"It’s quite easy to switch off and they’re always keen to play and go and do something else. You don’t feel like you have to get out of the city to switch off from footy, you can just go home."

As the Eagles prepare to meet the Hawks in the 2015 Grand Final, Mark LeCras says he hopes to tastes premiership success after missing out in 2006.

LeCras was dropped from the star-studded Eagles Grand Final side in 2006 after tallying just two disposals in the qualifying final loss to the Sydney Swans.

"I never dreamt as a kid of just being a grand finalist. You dream of winning them," LeCras said.

"I get very jealous when I watch other people play in premiership sides.

"I'm a fairly competitive person, and I'm keen to have success with this playing group.

"We are a tight group, and if we win it will give us a good reason to catch up again in 10 years' time."

As the Eagles prepare for their upcoming preliminary final, Mark LeCras reveals he saw his axing coming during the club's run to the flag in 2006, but he hopes to taste premiership glory this time around.

LeCras was playing only his sixth AFL match when he tallied just two disposals in West Coast's qualifying final loss to the Sydney Swans in 2006.

It was in stark contrast to a week earlier, when LeCras booted 5.4 against Richmond to announce himself as a future star.

The Eagles went on to win the flag that year, but LeCras wasn't part of the premiership-winning team after being dropped following his flop against the Swans.

"I fully expected it. I didn't perform at that time," LeCras said.

"It was only my sixth game, so I probably wasn't quite ready.

"It was a great time to be around the club. Success is what everyone plays for. Winning breeds a great culture."

Mark LeCras admits he is still unclear on the rules surrounding the bump.

"Not really to be honest," LeCras said.

"It's a funny one when you look at some of the incidents that have happened in the past but it's not something I worry about. You take your punishment and move on."

Mark LeCras has copped a one-week suspension for a head-high bump against Giant Will Hoskin-Elliott.

"He didn't need to do that. I spoke to him about it," West Coast coach Adam Simpson said.

"I've got no doubt he'd process it differently if his arm (that he broke recently) was 100 per cent. But having said that, it's still no excuse."

Mark LeCras will be sidelined for four weeks after having surgery to repair his fractured right forearm.

"He's really disappointed," teammate Dean Cox said.

"Hopefully he can get back now and run and touch the footy as much as he can and still have a big impact for this club because his pre-season was really good."

Mark LeCras is expected to spend time on the sidelines after injuring his right forearm in West Coast's 25-point win over St Kilda.

"It could be the same issue he had in the past with his arm," Eagles coach Adam Simpson said.

"We don't know yet. It doesn't look great. He'll miss weeks."

Mark LeCras is ruled out for at least a week with two broken ribs suffered against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.

West Coast coach John Worsfold praises the efforts of Mark LeCras after the forward booted five second-half goals against the Bombers despite suffering bruised ribs.

"He's a talented player, but he's also a tough kid," Worsfold said.

"He had to tell us if he thought he could still contribute at the required level at half-time, and he wanted to give it a go."

With a tally of 25.24, Mark LeCras has not been his accurate self this year but denies that an armguard is behind his wayward shots at goal.

"I think when I started missing a few I started that rumour," LeCras said.

"I cut [the armguard] down six weeks ago so it's pretty lightweight.

"It's not really bothering me at the moment. I'll probably have to play with it for the rest of the year. I don't think about it too much."

West Coast sharpshooter Mark Le Cras looks set to be a one-club player, committing to the Eagles for a further four seasons.

"Having a player of Mark's ability recommit to the club for the next four years is a key element of our list management strategy," West Coast list manager Craig Vozzo said.

"He is seen as important part of our playing group, both now and into the future. As a 26-year-old, despite everything he has already achieved, we believe his best is yet to come."

Luckless West Coast forward Mark LeCras will undergo surgery on Sunday to repair a small fracture in his right arm after colliding with Docker Tendai Mzungu in their round one clash.

Josh Hill says he feels more comfortable at the Eagles now in his second year at the club and is looking to working closely with Mark LeCras up forward.

"I know he's got his flair that he brings. I'm going to try to bring my side and work on improving," Hill said.

"Like last year I'm going to start off with the defensive side of my game and look to use that to get involved. I feel a lot more comfortable now that I've got a year under my belt at the club."

After more than 17 months out of the game, Mark LeCras makes solid return by playing a half of football and kicking a goal in the Eagles' first NAB Cup match against Geelong.

"I think he's rapt. He was just keen to get it all going again," Eagles coach John Worsfold said.

"His pre-season's been outstanding so it was just good to know he's up and going again. He had a smile on his face after the game, so I'd say he's pulled up well."

Eagles John Worsfold says Mark LeCras is ready to resume playing football in the NAB Cup after recovering from a knee reconstruction.

"He's been doing all our match simulation and game plan drills for a month now … we've had our equivalent of intraclub games and he's played in those," Worsfold said.

"He wasn't doing every drill that the players were doing really up until January, so he still followed a fairly strict program in terms of building him up to be ready to play now."

West Coast forward Josh Hill says he is already feeling the pressure to improve as goalkickers Mark LeCras and Mark Nicoski plot their returns to the Eagles' forward line.

"That's the hard part, keeping the position," Hill said.

"It's a tough gig, but everyone wants that spot and we're all going to fight for it pre-season. I think it's just going to motivate the boys to perform that one step better."

West Coast coach John Worsfold says star forward Mark LeCras won't make a return from a knee reconstruction this season.

"The risk of re-injuring his knee would not only put him out for another year, it would potentially do further damage to the knee and make it harder for him to come back," Worsfold said.

"The reconstruction he had was at the best possible level - no other damage to any other aspects of his knee. He's actually got a really healthy knee going forward."

Dean Cox says teammate Mark LeCras still hopes to make a shock return for this year's finals as the Eagles chase a premiership.

"We just think he's so valuable for our footy side that if it does happen, he's going to add a really dangerous weapon come September," Cox said.

"I don't think he'd play if there was any doubt of him re-injuring himself, so it would just be a matter of getting himself right and then hopefully you'll see him in an Eagles jumper some time this year.

"Some people come back in five or six months, some people take the whole year. It's certainly a risk you'd think about though."

Eagles coach John Worsfold hasn't ruled out injured forward Mark LeCras returning in 2012.

"There's no doubt he could play late in the season," Worsfold said.

"But it would be a very high risk."

West Coast forward Mark LeCras is ruled out for the season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a training mishap.

"I must admit yesterday was a pretty dark day," teammate Andrew Embley said.

"We all feel for him. He's not just a teammate, but a really good mate as well. It's just important we get behind him."

West Coast's Mark LeCras will have scans on his knee after a training accident that is expected to keep him out for up to two months.

With a pre-season in which he has prepared as a midfielder, debate will rage over Eagle Mark LeCras' best position.

"This pre-season, pretty much everything the midfield group go and do off on their own I'll join in," LeCras said.

"Compared to the last couple of years I'd say I've probably done 80 per cent more in there. I'm not exactly sure where the coaches are going to go with it, but I've been doing a lot more work in the midfield just to be ready for it in case that happens."

Mark LeCras is making a real impact while playing in the midfield since returning from a serious adductor injury.

"The team's playing pretty well and functioning well using 'Lecca' in that [midfield] role, so it's a good role for us to use him in at the moment," Eagles coach John Worsfold said.

"As time goes on, we'll see where he spends more time. We're having a look at some different set-ups at the moment. He's a good player, so he's going to play well in those positions."

West Coast forward Mark LeCras has been named to take on Melbourne, completing a speedier than expected recovery from a groin injury.

West Coast club champion Mark LeCras will be nursed through the NAB Cup qualifying final while recovering from hamstring tightness.

West Coast forward Mark LeCras has been rewarded for his outstanding season with his first best and fairest award for the Eagles.

"It's something I'll hold very close to my heart," he said from the gala event at Burswood's grand ballroom.

"I think I've had personally not a bad year. [There were] dashes of inconsistency in there but I'm pretty rapt with this award."

Matthew Priddis says teammate Mark LeCras is still likely to make a full-time move to the midfield at some stage despite being one of the competition's best small forwards.

"Once we get our full list up and going and the depth is there then I think he'll definitely spend more time in the midfield," Priddis said.

"I think that's why he's so good, because he's so versatile and he's just so different. He's got the goal-smarts and he knows how to find space, so he brings that to the midfield."

John Worsfold says Mark LeCras' 12-goal haul against Essendon was among the best ever produced by an Eagle.

"There's not too many bags of goals kicked like that, so that's one of the great forward performances, for sure," Worsfold said.

"He's been a great player all year for us, and he's kicked goals all year for us. We knew he marks on a lead, we know he's clever on the ground, so he didn't do anything that we're not aware of. Just the weight of it was great."

LeCras' 12 goals was the most ever kicked by any player at Etihad Stadium.

West Coast forward Mark LeCras is almost certain to miss the Eagles' round 2 match against Port Adelaide due to a hamstring complaint.

"He's still a bit sore in his hamstring so probably unlikely to play this week considering how it's feeling at the moment,'' Eagles coach John Worsfold said.

"He cramped up in the last quarter of the game. Most players that cramped have got rid of that soreness by today, his hasn't resided yet.''

West Coast captain Darren Glass has won the club's 2009 best and fairest award ahead of Shannon Hurn and Mark LeCras on Friday night.

"I want to get back into pre-season," Glass said.

"I've got lots of things I can work on. I want to add to the offensive side of my game and just keep improving.

"There's no doubt this year we were better defensively as a team and I'm pretty confident we'll make improvements on that again."

Teammate Tyson Stenglein took the opportunity to announce his retirement after 102 games for the Eagles at the awards.