West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen is pleased how the Eagles are shaping up as the 2024 campaign draws closer, believing the team’s training intensity has lifted this pre-season.

The majority of Wednesday’s tough three-hour session was no holds barred match simulation, with teammates facing off against each other ahead of their four-day break.

The squad competed in three 20-minute periods, watched on by several hundred fans, who made the most of the last open training session before school holidays comes to an end next week.

“We’ve elevated the standards and the intent,” Allen said.

“There’s a lot of contest work and we’re hitting bodies, that’s a really paramount part of AFL footy.

“I’m pretty happy with how we’re going on-field, obviously a lot of development and improvement (left), but I think people watching externally would think there has been a lift compared to previous years, so I think we’ve had a really good start.”

With West Coast’s new recruits getting plenty of game-time on the track, Allen said it’s great to see the youngsters take their opportunities and show off their talents.

No. 1 draft pick Harley Reid has been the talk of the town since his arrival and turned heads with his explosive power on Wednesday, but Allen praised a number of other youngsters who have also impressed him during the pre-season.

“Obviously Harley is a good player, he can play footy, everyone knows that,” Allen said.

“But I think a lot of young guys, Clay Hall, Tyrell Dewar, some of the things that he does as a half forward, Noah Long … Loch Rawlinson, a lot of guys off the half-forward line have been really impressive I think.

“They’re the guys I work more closely with, so I probably notice them a little bit more because they’re around me, but the depth of our midfield has been pleasing with some younger players really pushing their case.”

Arriving at the club back in 2017, Allen said it’s a stark contrast to the new draftees coming through the system today, most of whom are already game-ready for the elite level.

“Every year the guys who come in have probably been in programs a little bit longer, through their state academies or WAFL clubs, so they’re all more physically developed,” he said.

“I look at them and think about what I looked like when I came to the footy club, I was skinny and nowhere near ready to play senior footy, but a lot of these guys are.

“I think just generally, everyone who gets drafted comes in a more ready-made player than what I did, but apart from Harley, I think the whole first year and second year draft class have been really impressive.”

Coming off a career-best season when he finished runner-up in the John Worsfold Medal and kicked 53 goals, Allen is not resting on his laurels and is eager to continue cementing himself as one of the AFL’s gun key forwards.

“I think I just need to build on last year in all areas,” Allen said.

“Although I played out the whole season, which was probably my goal last year, I need to get more consistent at a high level.

“I want to be a really good top-end forward in the competition and you become that by year on year on year of being consistent and performing.

“I’m just big on focusing on the processes of being a good, competitive, contested player, and the rest kind of takes care of itself.”