A SAM MITCHELL masterclass has given West Coast fans a mouthwatering taste of what to expect in 2017, with the champion midfielder inspiring the Eagles to a 55-point pre-season thumping of Fremantle in Geraldton on Saturday.

In his first game in blue and gold after 307 appearances for Hawthorn and four flags, Mitchell's stellar debut overshadowed Dockers superstar Nat Fyfe's long-awaited return from a broken leg.

Mitchell finished with a game-high 28 touches, but it was the creativity of his ball use and impact on a slick West Coast engine room that would have excited supporters most in the 0.16.11 (107) to 0.8.4 (52) triumph.

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Matt Priddis, Luke Shuey, Andrew Gaff all benefited from the 2012 Brownlow medallist's presence, while Lewis Jetta showed promise in a fast-paced contest played in hot conditions.

With ex-North Melbourne big man Drew Petrie also debuting in Eagles colours and competing strongly during stints in the ruck, West Coast coach Adam Simpson liked the chemistry of his recruits in the midfield.

"There's no doubt they would've been nervous, I reckon today even though they're 300-game players, Drew and Sam," he said.

WATCH: Adam Simpson's full post-match media conference

"Obviously we've inherited a pretty good player (Mitchell). We're pleased with him and we're pleased everyone in the midfield today. 

"There's some experience there and the chemistry is starting to click too, which is pleasing."

With a rampant engine room feeding dual Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy (five goals) and sidekick Mark LeCras (three), the Eagles had too much firepower and blew Freo away early.

Mitchell had the first kick of the game and was everywhere with 10 disposals before quarter-time in the JLT Community Series clash at Wonthella Oval.

West Coast piled on five goals in each of the first two terms and was never threatened after opening up a 45-point advantage at the long break.

To their credit, the Dockers fought back after half-time, shaking off some rust in their first pre-season hit-out.

While there were storylines all over the park for both sides, most eyes were on Fyfe in his comeback.

Playing his first game since round five last season, the new Dockers skipper started in the centre square and spent stints deep forward as he battled manfully in a losing cause.

Fyfe racked up a team-best 22 touches, while Darcy Tucker and Stephen Hill tried hard, but Freo's onball division was swamped, losing the disposal count by a staggering 201 possessions (415-214).

Michael Walters' electric pace worried the Eagles' defenders but he didn't have his kicking boots on, while his partner-in-crime Hayden Ballantyne bobbed up with two majors.

Tall recruits Cam McCarthy and Shane Kersten (one goal) struggled for impact from limited supply in their first outings in purple.

For McCarthy, it was a welcome return to action after the former Giant sat out last season to deal with mental health issues.

"If you think about it, McCarthy hasn't played in a year and a half, Fyfe's hardly played in a year and a half, (Michael) Johnson virtually a full year ... and (we had) some new players and some young players," Dockers coach Ross Lyon said.

WATCH: Ross Lyon's full post-match media conference

"Michael Johnson will get better, McCarthy will get better and Fyfe will get better. 

"I thought our second half was a lot better than the first half, obviously... we were on the back foot and we couldn't really get near them." 

Ex-Bulldogs premiership defender Joel Hamling had a tough initiation as a Docker, spending plenty of time on Kennedy and receiving little help from his teammates up the ground.

Triple-premiership Hawthorn wingman Bradley Hill slotted two goals on Freo debut playing alongside brother Stephen for the first time and got better as the game wore on.

Hill provided a lighter moment in the final term when he tangled with Mitchell and refused to let his former teammate to get up, with both players sharing a quick embrace before running their separate ways.

WHAT WE LEARNED
West Coast
At the risk of repeating ourselves, Sam Mitchell's addition to the Eagles' midfield could be the missing link for Adam Simpson's side to push back deep into finals this year. West Coast's ability to get hands on the ball was a major failing last season and already Mitchell's presence looks to have tipped the balance back the Eagles' way, which will be critical after losing Nic Naitanui's dominance in the ruck for most, if not all, of the campaign.

Fremantle
The Dockers were only playing their first pre-season game, so some rustiness from Ross Lyon's men was understandable. But there were promising signs. Although Nat Fyfe couldn't exert his usual influence from 22 possessions given the Eagles' control of the game, the superstar midfielder appears ready to again vie for the status of the game's best player. Freo's forward line was starved of opportunities, however Michael Walters was lively and looks primed for a big season. 

Cam McCarthy lays a tackle on Eric Mackenzie. Picture: AFL Photos

NEW FACES
West Coast
Sam Mitchell was brilliant when the heat was on early in the contest, and his chemistry with Matt Priddis and Luke Shuey in particular appears well progressed. Drew Petrie played as the back-up ruckman and was his typical hard-working self, while Nathan Vardy (one goal) continues to impress leading the ruck and with his willingness to get his hands dirty around the ground.

Fremantle
Cam McCarthy and Shane Kersten found it tough to get into the contest given the Eagles' weight of possession, although Kersten did hit the scoreboard for his first major. Both should be better for the run. At the other end, Joel Hamling had it tough trying to stop Josh Kennedy with the flood of quality supply coming in. Bradley Hill didn’t get many chances to break the lines, but kicked two goals in an encouraging start in purple, while young ruckman Sean Darcy made a contest in the ruck in limited game time.

NEXT UP
The Dockers hit the road to Mandurah to host Collingwood in their second JLT Community Series clash next Saturday. West Coast has a 12-day break before facing Melbourne in the club's final hit-out before round one.

WEST COAST    0.5.4  0.10.5  0.14.8  0.16.11 (107)
FREMANTLE      0.1.0  0.3.2    0.6.3    0.8.4 (52)

SUPERGOALS
West Coast: Nil
Fremantle: Nil 

GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 5, LeCras 3, Hill 2, Cripps 2, Darling, Shuey, Jetta, Vardy
Fremantle: Ballantyne 2, B.Hill 2, Apeness, Langdon, Kersten, Crozier

BEST 
West Coast: Mitchell, LeCras, Kennedy, Shuey, Priddis, Gaff
Fremantle: Fyfe, Walters, S.Hill, Griffin, Ballantyne, Tucker

INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
Fremantle: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, Dalgleish, Williamson, Adams 

Official crowd: 8880 at Wonthella Oval, Geraldton