The air of excitement and razor-sharp focus at Mineral Resources Park on Friday morning revealed plenty about what was to come – the West Coast Eagles’ first match simulation for 2023.
From the moment the players broke from their team meeting, it was clear that this session had an edge to it, with the playing group split into blue and gold teams, ready to crash bodies and put into practice what they had been training.
Once the formalities of warm-up were out the way, there was no quarter asked, or given, in an impressive first taste of competitive full-ground gameplay.
Pleasingly, there were a number of key players raring to go coming off tough injury-interrupted seasons.
Typically assertive in the ruck, Nic Naitanui commanded the taps and followed up with trademark brutality at ground level, while at his feet Dom Sheed was as prolific and damaging with his precise left-foot as Eagles fans know and love.
Lining up in the goalsquare, Oscar Allen had presence, charging out on the lead and marking strongly on several occasions, before converting with assurance.
The 23-year-old spearhead, working in concert with roaming Jack Darling, thrived on delivery from Tim Kelly, whose burst from stoppage and sublime foot skills gave the opposition defenders nightmares.
Scanning across the field there was a lot to like.
Such as speedy recruit Jayden Hunt intercepting opposition forays and releasing others with smart distribution, or taking the game on himself from half-back.
That's not to mention the welcome sight of dual John Worsfold medallist Elliot Yeo putting his power on full display around the stoppages, or breaking the game open with his booming right boot.
As expected, top draftee Reuben Ginbey didn’t look out place in the cut and thrust of the battle for possession, and fellow youngster Noah Long was busy around the forward line and kicked inside 50 with notable penetration.
Mid-season draftee Jai Culley displayed the fruits of an off-season of tremendous hard work on his fitness and craft, with clean hands in tight - including pouncing on a bouncing ball and in one motion releasing to a free teammate from a centre clearance - and an impressive ability to cover the ground in his first summer as an Eagle.
When it comes to pace, few are quicker than lightning-fast Jack Petruccelle, and his link-up play between the arcs created plenty of opportunities for his team, while Samo Petrevski-Seton was busy along with tireless wingman Andrew Gaff.
Towards the latter stages of the gruelling two-hour session a couple of big men, forward tyro Jack Williams and rangy ruck Callum Jamieson, who debuted in the same game last year - round two against North Melbourne, amid the club's availability crisis - grew into the contest.
Jamieson’s work around the ground turned heads as he continues to develop his football and body for the rigours of the elite level.
Williams twice marked strongly close to goal, including in a one-on-one contest against four-time All-Australian defender Jeremy McGovern, who was a standout throughout, and the 198cm teen showed he has plenty of raw talent to work with heading towards his second season on the list.
