West's most successful year in the AFL came in 1993 when he played 10 games and the following year he crossed to Footscray for one season.
In 1995 he joined South Australian National Football League (SANFL) club Port Adelaide, playing 25 games, playing in Port's premiership team, and winning the club's best and fairest award. West was the victim of an assault in late 1995 that left him fighting for his life. West recovered and after rehabilitation played for Port Adelaide again in 1997, playing seven league games and 14 reserves games. Not surprisingly, West never regained his form of 1995, but it was a major feat that he was able to recover and return to league football.