As the full squad of West Coast Eagles players were summoned to the middle of Metricon Oval two, they did not anticipate the instruction to be anything out of the ordinary.

A moment later they were clapping, cheering and hollering. They had a new captain. At least for this week.

While 2020 skipper, Luke Shuey, was completing a rehabilitation session around the boundary, recovering from a hamstring strain, coach Adam Simpson announced that Jeremy McGovern would lead the team against Adelaide on Saturday.

McGovern, elevated to accompany champion forward Josh Kennedy as a vice-captain this season, will be at the front of the group when they run onto the ‘Gabba on Saturday afternoon. He looked chuffed. And the boys celebrated the occasion.

The former North Albany star has come a long way.

That moment was a lead-in to a solid session in warm conditions, a more stark contrast to the club’s first run while re-located in Queensland would not be possible.

Memories of the club’s opening session on the same ground a month ago, when a massive amount of rain dumped on the oval in a matter of minutes, remains vivid.

But today, it was vastly different; there was no impediment to skill execution and it was a lively hit out.

A few players, aware their names have been bandied about as possible replacements for hamstrung pair Shuey and Jamaine Jones, had a pep in their step.

Among them were forwards Jack Petruccelle, Jarrod Cameron and Nic Reid. Midfielders Jarrod Brander, Brayden Ainsworth and Hamish Brayshaw also trained enthusiastically.

After a meeting back at the High Performance Centre at Royal Pines, the match committee sat down to contemplate the composition of the team for the final game in this five-week stint. Their thoughts will be revealed tomorrow evening.