With an eye on a home Marsh Community Series fixture in just 15 days’ time, West Coast was hard at work during Wednesday’s open training.

The Eagles are set to host their first pre-season clash against Essendon at Mineral Resources Park on February 27, and a large contingent of the squad took part in the early morning session before several hundred eager fans.

From the outset, the voice was up and skills were sharp in warm and blustery conditions, with the group no doubt buoyed seeing four-time All Australian defender Jeremy McGovern increasing his workload following heel surgery, alongside full-back Tom Barrass.

Coming off a minor hamstring niggle, emerging defender Josh Rotham also joined in ball movement exercises, with significant focus on transitioning the full length of the oval.

Fresh from victory in the Stevie Simpson Cup dog race with his boy Blue, rebounding defender Liam Duggan was leading from the front and hitting targets with precision following a strong summer.

As the 2020 campaign approaches, several talls are taking major strides forward, including ruck options Tom Hickey and Nathan Vardy after slight setbacks.

The big men were heavily involved in stoppage craft work, linking up with the likes of gun recruit Tim Kelly, Andrew Gaff, Elliot Yeo, Dom Sheed and youngsters Hamish Brayshaw and Brayden Ainsworth.

Meanwhile, second-year Eagle Bailey Williams took the opportunity to showcase his prodigious leap during centre bounce drills.

Williams has shown great potential both in the ruck and attack, slotting 16 goals in the WAFL last season and averaging 15.4 hit-outs from 20 appearances.

The 199cm tall continues to learn plenty under the guidance of ruck colossus Nic Naitanui and dual Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy, who continued to shine on the track with some gruelling repeat effort snaps at goal.

Kennedy’s long-time partner in attack Jack Darling (minor cheekbone fracture) also made an appearance, completing on-ground conditioning work before the main group hit the track.

Darling remains a chance for West Coast’s second and final Marsh Community Series clash against Fremantle on March 7, more than two weeks before the Eagles’ 2020 campaign kicks-off against Melbourne at Optus Stadium.