It’s all about the numbers. Counting the wins, accumulating premiership points and increasing percentage.

Then there’s the individual statistics; the disposal count which itself is broken down to contested possessions, metres gained through an individual’s moments with the ball in their hands. And that all contributes to the collective.

Clearances from stoppage, inside 50s, time and tackles in the forward half. It’s always about the numbers.

Ultimately elite football is about wins and losses. The most important numbers are on the scoreboard.

For the West Coast Eagles, in a phase of building towards contesting finals once again, there is another number which is also a critical factor in measuring success. And it is one rung below the spotlight of the AFL.

It centres around the number of players available at WAFL level.

Last week in a practice match against Subiaco there were a dozen AFL-listed players running around. The WAFL Eagles won the match, but that was of secondary importance, especially as the Lions had only a sprinkling of senior players in action.

The key was having such a strong representation of players competing together, operating under the same game plan that is implemented at AFL level. While many of those engaged in the contest were first or second year players there was also a cluster of experienced campaigners.

Obviously 276-game midfield veteran Andrew Gaff would have preferred to have been playing in the main game on Sunday. The same could be said of Alex Witherden and Josh Rotham.

The educational benefits for first-year midfielder Clay Hall playing alongside Gaff in the centre square is priceless. The same could be said of young defender Coby Burgiel and Jordyn Baker playing alongside Rotham and Witherden.

Other youngsters Loch Rawlinson, Tyrell Dewar, Coen Livingstone and Harvey Johnson also enjoyed the on-field education.

In the last couple of seasons a heavy injury toll that has severely impacted availability at AFL level has had the knock on effect of decimating the WAFL Eagles.

Country and amateur recruits who have consistently rocked up against the odds have been brave, but ultimately without support from above they have had an unreasonable level of responsibility foisted upon them.

While the Eagles young guns have benefitted from strong numbers so, too, have the non-AFL listed players. It’s never any fun being belted week in, week out.

The WAFL season starts today and the Eagles play Swan Districts at Steel Blue Oval. There should again be a strong representation of players with AFL aspirations. Fingers crossed it continues throughout the year.

Winning and losing remains at the core of this team, but development is also critical.

It is always a little bemusing when media reports around WAFL matches list the number of AFL-listed players in the WAFL Eagles line-up or at Peel Thunder, the Fremantle alignment club.

Aside from the educational benefits, that number is irrelevant. Most of the Eagles players are 18-20 years of age. Their best football is ahead of them and the club anticipates they will impact the AFL competition in years to come.

They are not there yet.

Seasoned, mature bodies will still out-muscle and outrun developing youth. But that table will be turned.