With a four-day break on the horizon, the West Coast Eagles sweated through one of their toughest sessions so far this pre-season at Mineral Resources Park on Wednesday.  

The lift in intensity has been noticeable about a month out from games against opposition, and there was not holding back during full-ground contested work.

Competition for spots is especially fierce in the small forward positions, and Jack Petruccelle, Jamaine Jones and Zac Langdon continue to push each other – and 2018 premiership trio Jamie Cripps, Liam Ryan and Willie Rioli.

Petruccelle’s pace and ability to break free into space was again a highlight, while Jones set up an early goal when he found space on a wing, took two bounces and delivered a perfectly-weighted pass to Oscar Allen, who then handed off to Cripps for a major at point-blank range.

It was the first of two goals from the hard-working half-forward, while Allen and Bailey Williams worked well in unison as marking targets in attack and both hit the scoreboard.

At the other end, four-time All-Australian Jeremy McGovern marshalled the backline superbly, working in concert with 301-gamer Shannon Hurn to deny several attacking thrusts.

There was also plenty to like through the midfield, with top draft pick Campbell Chesser impressing with his turn of speed to break away from congestion and ability to steady before neatly finding a teammate by foot.

Ball magnets Andrew Gaff and Dom Sheed were typically influential, and both got forward to kick goals on their trusty left boots, while Connor West and mature-age draftee Greg Clark both relished the physicality.

Several big guns watched on from the sidelines as they completed their own programs – including Nic Naitanui, Liam Ryan, Elliot Yeo and Josh Kennedy – in their carefully managed build towards the season.

Unfortunately skipper Luke Shuey was a casualty of the session after sustaining a leg injury which will require scans.