ARRIVALS: Tom Barrass, Xavier Ellis, Malcolm Karpany, Will Maginness, Dylan Main, Rowen Powell, Dom Sheed, Elliot Yeo

DEPARTURES: Bradd Dalziell, Brad Dick, Andrew Embley, Ashton Hams, Daniel Kerr, Cale Morton, Mark Nicoski, Adam Selwood

B: Beau Waters, Darren Glass, Mitch Brown

HB: Shannon Hurn, Eric Mackenzie, Xavier Ellis

C: Matt Rosa, Matt Priddis, Andrew Gaff

HF: Sharrod Wellingham, Josh Kennedy, Chris Masten

F: Mark LeCras, Jack Darling, Jamie Cripps

R: Dean Cox, Scott Selwood, Luke Shuey

INT: Nic Naitanui, Dom Sheed, Elliot Yeo

SUB: Mark Hutchings

Tom Barrass (hip): 3-5 weeks

Mark Hutchings (back): 1-2 weeks

Beau Waters (shoulder): 4-6 weeks

PASS MARK FOR 2014: Improvement is non-negotiable for West Coast. A new coach, some new recruits and a new game plan will require time to settle, and while expectations should not be too high, Eagles fans demand excellence of their team. Strong performances and a push for the finals will be expected. A favourable draw and solid pre-season form will raise expectations as well. 

NEEDS A BIG YEAR: Brad Sheppard. The 22-year-old was pick No. 7 in the 2009 national draft, and 2014 will be his fifth year at AFL level. He has managed just 45 matches in four years and has been unable to bed down a spot in the Eagles first-choice 22. The recruitment of Xavier Ellis and Elliot Yeo adds more depth to the Eagles’ midfield and half-back stocks, and Sheppard will be tested by their presence.

FIRST FIVE GAMES: Western Bulldogs (PS), Melbourne (MCG), St Kilda (PS), Geelong (SS), Port Adelaide (PS).

PLAY TWICE: St Kilda, Fremantle, Gold Coast, Collingwood, Melbourne

TOUGHEST RUN: The Eagles have a fabulous draw, but they do face a difficult run after the bye in round nine. They meet Collingwood, North Melbourne, Hawthorn, and Gold Coast in a very tough month before playing St Kilda for a second time. They also play Fremantle and the Sydney Swans in rounds 15 and 16. 

DREAM SCENARIO: The Eagles win six or seven of their first eight matches before the bye and carry a wave of momentum to the finals, where they could possibly finish top four. Nic Naitanui gets back to full fitness and Xavier Ellis and Elliot Yeo prove to be two of the best recruits of the year. 

WORST NIGHTMARE: Another spate of key injuries see the Eagles lose round one at home to the Western Bulldogs and drop five of their next seven to Geelong, Port Adelaide, Carlton, Fremantle and GWS. 

PRESSURE RATING ON THE COACH: 2/10. Any new coach should get a significant grace period, and Adam Simpson will be allowed time to settle into his new role and get his players playing the way he wants them to. But the Eagles’ fan base can be impatient, and if they get a sense that the team is not improving or performing as expected, they will make Simpson aware of it.