As the West Coast Eagles moved through their regular Tuesday training routine, dark clouds began to roll menacingly towards Patersons Stadium from the west.

And by mid-session, loud rumbles of thunder were growling behind that gloomy pall, making the decision to adjust the daily schedule and bring forward training by a bit more than an hour totally justifiable.

And if that wasn’t enough, at about the time the session was due to commence, the forecast rain was dumping on the Eagles home turf.

By that stage, players were off the track having completed their skill acquisition training in relatively fine conditions.

PHOTOS: Catch all the training action here

Sometimes routines need to be tweaked to get the best outcome.

Cynics would suggest that you don’t get the option of sheltering from the rain on game day, but in this modern climate you do.

At least this week West Coast does because it will play St Kilda at Etihad Stadium. If it’s raining on Sunday, they will play under a closed roof.

So it made sense to make the switch and undoubtedly the players appreciated change up.

Most of them were out there too. Veteran Dean Cox, who was rested against Gold Coast, and midfielder Luke Shuey, a late withdrawal with an ankle injury, were both involved. Cox participated in all of the skill work while Shuey, for the most part, ran laps.

Sam Butler, who dislocated a finger which refused to pop back into the socket on Saturday, was also on deck and showed no signs of discomfort.

Defender Elliot Yeo, understandably, was not out there, given he will spend the next five to seven weeks recovering from a broken hand, and vice-captain Scott Selwood was also an absentee as the club wrestles with the best way to treat an ankle injury that is causing some angst.