The countdown has been akin to ticking off the calendar in the run towards Christmas Day.

As a child it always took forever to get to December 25. And it has been a similar journey to tomorrow. But here we are, on the eve of the West Coast Eagles season opener.

Since the National Draft in November we’ve been looking forward to this.

Over the last couple of seasons there has been a significant renovation of the club’s senior list. Some of the club’s greats have made their exit and now the future rests largely in the hands of the next generation.

We will all miss Shannon Hurn, Luke Shuey and Nic Naitanui. Just as we pined for Josh Kennedy, Jack Redden and Brad Sheppard who departed before them. Sadly no player is immune to the ageing process; it is part of the football cycle that champions come and go.

So now we watch with excitement as the next generation charged with the responsibility of taking this club forward begin their journey.

Some, like Brady Hough, Reuben Ginbey, Elijah Hewett, Noah Long, Campbell Chesser, Ryan Maric and Jai Culley have given us a glimpse of what they can do. We now wait to see how the newest batch of players can impact the club’s trajectory up the ladder.

Can’t wait to see Harley Reid, Clay Hall, Harvey Johnston, Archer Reid and Loch Rawlinson – the class of ’24 in action. Harley will debut against Port Adelaide, the others will press for a spot as the year progresses.

Then there’s Tyler Brockman, an electrifying small forward who returns to his home State after a couple of years at Hawthorn, and ruckman Matt Flynn who has recruited from GWS to lead the ruck.

Brockman will also debut against the Power while we will need to wait a couple of months to see Flynn in action after a freak accident when jumping into a ruck bag at training ahead of the Fremantle practice game.

Beyond this year’s intake the development of Coby Burgiel, Rhett Bazzo and Harry Barnett is eagerly anticipated alongside Next Generation Academy Products Coen Livingstone, Tyrell Dewar and Jordyn Baker.  

This vibrant, energetic group will have some steady and experienced heads around them.

Co-captains Liam Duggan and Oscar Allen have wisdom for them to lean on, as do premiership defenders Jeremy McGovern and Tom Barrass, midfielder Elliot Yeo, reigning Club Champion Tim Kelly and 270-game veterans Jack Darling and Andrew Gaff.

There is much to absorb in the early phase of an AFL career as players build resilience and aptitude for a game that at the elite level demands so much more than a high football IQ. 

The show-down with Port – widely regarded as a premiership contender – will be challenging. But whatever happens it will be the next step towards the West Coast Eagles ascension.

No one is expecting the club to go from 0-100kmh. This is about a gradual climb. It won’t be linear either. There will be peaks and troughs that come with a squad where half of its players are under 22 years of age.

But the excitement is palpable. Eagles fans have no doubt heard senior coach Adam Simpson talk about the energy in the locker room. The assertion that the kids are ‘taking over.’

Already those young men have formed a powerful union. Their enthusiasm is infectious. We will ride the bumps with them, watch them grow and mature along the way.

I reckon it will be fun.