West Coast Eagles WAWFL captain Ben Green and teammate Paul Whitehurst are proudly representing Western Australia at the Toyota AFL Open, which started in Melbourne today.

WA fell just short in a hard-fought contest against Victoria, going down by six points in the opening-day clash at La Trobe University Sports Stadium.

The Sandgropers responded with a 42-0 thrashing of NSW/ACT before victories over Queensland (13-9) and Northern Territory (28-12) to finish the opening day in a strong position in second spot on the ladder.

Adding to the significance of the week, Green has also been appointed the coach, further highlighting his leadership credentials both on and off the field.

The role is a fitting reward for the West Coast WAWFL skipper, who continues to make a strong impact within the game.

The Toyota AFL Open brings together talented athletes from across the country and will continue over the coming days, with the Division One and Division Two grand finals set to be played on Wednesday.