There was a lot to like as a quick and fierce West Coast Eagles outfit showcased a new gamestyle and evolved line-up in a match sim win over Richmond.

In front of a crowd of several thousand on Monday morning, the Eagles started the next chapter under Andrew McQualter with a 36-point triumph.

While the visitors sent a young and inexperienced team to Mineral Resources Park, West Coast would have been pleased by a spread of strong contributors in the 10.2 (62) to 4.2 (26) result.

There was an electrifying Tyrell Dewar performance on a wing, strong returns to football for Elijah Hewett and Noah Long, plus clear signs of why the Eagles brought in recruits Liam Baker, Jack Graham and Matt Owies.

Graham’s tackling was ferocious from the outset, setting the tone, while Baker’s courage and zip was on display across half-back.

Tyler Brockman kicked three majors in an impressive display heading into his second season in blue and gold, leading a mosquito fleet that ran rampant as the match simulation wore on.

Reuben Ginbey took a liking to his positional change, reading the play and intercepting as third tall in defence, while train-ons Sandy Brock and James Van Es showed some signs.

Last year’s mid-season rookie draftee Jack Hutchinson was sent further up the ground from attack and enjoyed the open spaces.

In the second period, Hutchinson typified McQualter's territory gamestyle by gaining 70m through knock-ons and a forward handball.

Before a knock to the back sent him from the ground in the second term, Matt Flynn pressed a strong case in the ruck with excellent follow-up and aerial presence.

While both teams shook off some rust in the opening stanza, the Eagles switched into gear for the second period, blitzing from the midfield and in transition to pile on six unanswered goals.

Speedy trio Noah Long, Tyler Brockman and Jack Petruccelle kicked classy majors, but the highlight was Tyrell Dewar’s solo effort from a wing when he arched his back, took a bounce and split the middle from outside 50m.

Star forward Oscar Allen then got into the act, converting from two strong marks, and it was mostly one-way traffic early in the final period.

Brockman slotted back-to-back goals – one after a chase-down tackle in the pocket – and Owies floated through his first goal.

There was a sight for sore eyes for Eagles fans in the opening stanza when Elijah Hewett – who missed all of last season with a foot injury – reminded everyone of his outrageous talent.

Bursting from a stoppage, he linked up to receive a handball before turning on the afterburners and snapping around his body from 40m for a stunning opening goal.

No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor answered for the visitors shortly after when he found space inside 50 and took an uncontested mark.

That was the Tigers’ only major until the 18-minute mark of the third period after Oliver Hayes-Brown converted from close-range, ending the Eagles’ run of nine-straight.

Lalor then bobbed up for his second, leading strongly from deep forward to close the margin, but came from the ground after a heavy collision in the dying stages.

West Coast was missing several top-liners, including Jamie Cripps, Tim Kelly, Jeremy McGovern, Harley Reid, Liam Ryan, Jake Waterman and Elliot Yeo.

The Tigers were without experienced campaigners Nick Vlastuin, Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto, Jayden Short, Toby Nankervis, Nathan Broad and Tom Lynch for the first hit-out of 2025.

MATCH DETAILS

West Coast 1.0 7.2 10.2 (62)

Richmond 1.1 1.1 4.2 (26)

GOALS

West Coast Brockman 3, Allen 2, Hewett, Dewar, Long, Petruccelle, Owies

Richmond Lalor 2, Hayes-Brown, Mansell