West Coast Eagles premiership star Andrew Embley has expressed his admiration for how the team stood up against North Melbourne on the weekend.

The 2006 Norm Smith Medallist said he thinks Sunday’s performance will give the group a heap of confidence going forward this season.

 “I was really impressed with their resilience, especially after quarter time and being down by five goals,” Embley said.

“They worked their way back into the game in that second quarter through contest and hard work and I loved their physicality.

“They flew the flag for each other, and they really stood up and to see that with a young group I’m sure gives them an enormous amount of confidence going forward.”

Embley visited Eagles HQ on Tuesday morning following the club’s Gather Round guernsey reveal, with the team set to don the iconic ochre guernsey in round five against Geelong.

“It’s a great jumper, I remember all the kids used to absolutely love it, it flew off the racks,” Embley said of the design he wore in the early 2000s.

“It presents really well, and some of the greats of our footy club wore it, Matera, Jakovich, and Chris Judd as well.

“The first time they ever put that jumper on they had a win against North Melbourne, so hopefully in Gather Round these boys can wear it with pride and have a big win too.”

Embley was joined by Eagles youngster and round two Telstra AFL Rising Star nominee Jobe Shanahan.

“I think it’s really cool, I love the colours,” Shanahan said of the ochre guernsey.

“Obviously I wasn’t born when it was first worn but I’ve seen champions of the club wear it, like ‘Embers’ (Andrew Embley) here, and I’m very keen to wear it.”

Reflecting on the last time West Coast donned the ochre, Embley said he saw similarities between that team and the current squad.  

“I do see a few similarities between the team back in 2001 and 2002 that wore that jumper and this group right now,” Embley said.

“There’s a really good young group coming through like we had back in 2001 and 2002.

“It takes a little bit of time, but if these guys stick together, keep buying in and keep working really hard, you never know how quickly they can turn it around.

“And we saw that on the weekend with how good they were.”

Embley praised 19-year-old Shanahan as a born-talent, with incredible skill and accuracy in front of goal.

“He’s really impressive, watching him last year, the first thing I thought was how good for a young kid his height to jump and launch and take the ball at the highest point,” Embley said.

“But his goal kicking too, he’s got a really good set shot kick and the amount of times I’ve said ‘this is going straight through’, just because his technique is really good, he keeps it really simple and he kicks through it.

“You can’t teach that kind of stuff, Jobe has obviously got it and he’s a real talent.”

Optus Stadium saw over 47,000 fans come through the gates on Sunday to watch the match, creating an unbelievable atmosphere for the team in their first win of the year.

“Credit to our supporter base, we have arguable the most loyal and passionate supporters,” Embley said.

“They’ve been though a bit of a tough time, but to have over 47,000 people at the game on the weekend, that was probably the loudest I’ve heard Optus Stadium for a good three or four years.

“Without a doubt it would have helped the guys, especially in that second quarter when the team was coming back, and when Elliot Yeo kicked that goal on three-quarter-time, it was just deafening.”