The changing of the dynamics in the West Coast squad were evident at McGillivray Oval today when the club’s first to fourth year players returned to begin pre-season training.

In the recent past, that group would have numbered a dozen or so, but virtually half of the squad was on the track today – a sure indication of the youth on the list.

GALLERY: Click here to see photos of the first training session of the 2015 pre-season

Consider that four more youngsters will make their way to the club through the national draft and the Eagles will boast an abundance of emerging talent.

Over the last couple of years veterans like Dean Cox, Daniel Kerr, Darren Glass, Andrew Embley, Adam Selwood and Mark Nicoski have retired, altering the amount of experience within the group significantly.

Irish recruit Paddy Brophy, baseball convert Corey Adamson and father-son selection Alec Waterman were all a part of the contingent who hit the track for the first session of the pre-season. And generally they looked in good shape, perhaps even a little stronger than when they finished the 2014 campaign.

Dom Sheed looked to have put some upper body strength on his frame, along with Tom Barrass and Rowen Powell; Jeremy McGovern looked in terrific shape and so did Murray Newman, Malcolm Karpany and Scott Lycett.

Veteran Beau Waters has returned with the younger players, having spent a year on the sidelines battling shoulder issues.

While the players have been on an extended break, they all looked in fine fettle.

They eased back into training with a conservative skill-based session of about 30 minutes, kicked away the cobwebs, but will continue to build from here.

Next Monday, the middle tier of players (fifth to eighth years on the list) will resume, with the full squad back together a week after that.