Star midfielder Emma Swanson will continue leading West Coast’s developing AFLW squad after retaining the captaincy for the team’s fourth season.

The Eagles’ reigning Club Champion, Swanson produced a career-best campaign earlier this year and was a standout with her uncompromising hardness at the contest, consistency and skill.

The 27-year-old was voted West Coast’s inaugural skipper and will again be supported by vice-captain and dual All-Australian Dana Hooker.

Irish gun Aisling McCarthy – who recently became an Australian citizen - also retains her place in the three-player leadership group, which has been trimmed by one after Parris Laurie retired.

Together, the trio will drive the standards of a young and talented playing squad that has a major emphasis on development and growth.

“Our leadership group has been fantastic driving standards, professionalism and all those things that come with being a leader. Obviously performance on-ground is a major part of it as well,” senior coach Michael Prior said.

“We’re really happy with Emma as the captain, Dana as our vice-captain and Aish McCarthy who sits in that leadership group.”

West Coast has also named a supporting leadership group, including 2021 Club Champion Bella Lewis, classy forward Aimee Schmidt, injured defender Evie Gooch and recruit Jess Sedunary, a former Adelaide premiership player who joined the club last month.

“We’ve got four supporting leaders but if we see someone during the season showing potential and growth that we can add to that and get them into our leadership group and meetings,” Prior said.