THE ANZ bank, which has sponsored West Coast for 19 years, has withdrawn its financial support, and another company, Western Australia's SGIO, has sought reassurances from officials about the behaviour of players.

The drug-infused club, grappling this week with the shock death of one of its former golden players, Chris Mainwaring, has found its off-field troubles threaten to affect the bottom line.

It has been a harrowing year for the Eagles. Apart from this week's suspected drug-related death of Mainwaring, one of the highest-profile clubs in the AFL has been involved in a string of scandals. Star player Ben Cousins has been treated for methamphetamine addiction; there was the near-death experience of Chad Fletcher during an off-season trip; and an assault conviction against another top player, Daniel Kerr, who was also caught on a police tape discussing the effects of taking drugs with his convicted drug dealer, Shane Waters. No doubt Chris Judd, in leaving the club to move to Melbourne after six years, will miss some things more than others.

Behind the scenes, most of the Eagles' sponsors are reviewing their associations with the club. Some are finding it increasingly difficult to justify their corporate involvement as a worthwhile community benefit as the club's brand has become tarnished. Several sponsors contacted by the Herald confirmed they were very concerned.

"It is a mess. We are hanging in there, but only just," said one sponsor's representative who didn't want to go public about his concerns because, "It is not really appropriate at the moment, given that one of the club's former greats has died. We are all upset."

An spokeswoman for ANZ, which had been a "premier partner" and a sponsor of the club since 1988, said the bank notified West Coast in July of its decision not to renew the sponsorship contract for next year. She said the decision was unrelated to the off-field issues.

"This was a commercial decision due to the increased cost sought by the West Coast Eagles for the sponsorship," she said. "It was unrelated to the off-field issues the Eagles have had this year."

ANZ is looking to spend money on other activities, including staff-driven community initiatives, financial literacy and sponsorships "that are more closely aligned to our brand".

The other major partner of the club, SGIO, a sponsor since the club's inception in 1987, has sought reassurances from Eagles officials that they are serious about addressing behaviour issues.

A spokeswoman said: "SGIO is midway through a three-year sponsorship of the West Coast Eagles and, as with all sponsorships, we will be following our usual review process in the lead-up to the renewal. The West Coast Eagles Club has given us an assurance that they have appropriate programs in place to pro-actively address recent player behaviour concerns. SGIO has confidence the West Coast Eagles board and management are continuing to handle such issues in the best interest of the club and its supporters."

Channel Seven, which lost a treasured employee in Mainwaring (he hosted sports reports) and is host broadcaster of the AFL, was guarded about its future plans with the club.

"We have been a sponsor of the West Coast Eagles for two decades," a spokesman said. "We appreciate that the club has confronted some issues in recent times. We also recognise that the club is professional and bigger than an individual. We remain strong in our support of the club."

Mainwaring's wife, Rani, and children Maddy, eight, and Zac, six, have posted touching newspaper tributes. Rani said she would miss her "beautiful, loving and amazing husband". Zac said: "To Daddy, thank you for teaching me football. You've been my best Daddy and I will miss you lots," while Maddy wrote, "I will always remember you in my heart. Thank you for being my Dad. I will miss you very much. Lots of love, Maddy."