AVID West Coast fan Daniel Ricciardo has a reputation as a 'smiling assassin' on the racetrack, and the always upbeat Formula One ace isn’t letting Nic Naitanui's knee injury flatten his hopes for the Eagles in 2017.
Wherever he is racing around the world, Ricciardo always tries to catch West Coast games via the AFL Live Pass, and he was shattered when his friend Naitanui suffered an ACL injury in round 22 last season.
But the Red Bull star has been buoyed by the addition of former Hawthorn champion Sam Mitchell to an Eagles line-up which reached the Grand Final two seasons ago.
"It's obviously a shame to have the two big boys out (Naitanui and Scott Lycett), but it's a big group that make up the team and a lot of attention is on Sam Mitchell joining," Ricciardo told AFL.com.au.
"There's still a very good group of guys there and I think they'll have a good season.
"I'm not going to say where I think they'll end up, but I think they'll do very well – let's just say that."
Ricciardo, who has been West Coast's No.1 ticketholder for the past two years, dropped into Eagles training on Wednesday in a rare opportunity to catch up with the players during his flying four-week return home.
Although he hurtles around a racetrack at breakneck speeds in excess of 300km/h, the 27-year-old is in awe of the physical abandon footballers play with on a weekly basis.
"I played (Australian Rules) when I was younger … and then once we grew up and kids got bigger, I was not one of the biggest kids," Ricciardo said.
"I'll be honest, I wasn't really the kid willing to put his body on the line, but I always loved it.
"Even after school (playing) backyard footy, I was always fascinated with sports in general, but I love footy and marking, kicking, all the hand-eye (coordination) stuff I always felt I was pretty decent at.
"But when it came to the physical contests, that's when I was running away.
"It's different (the danger of racing). It's a funny one."
Daniel Ricciardo and Nic Naitanui compare handball techniques. Picture: Getty Images
In the midst of his break from training ahead of the build-up to the 2017 Formula One Rolex Australian Grand Prix, Ricciardo was impressed by the Eagles' camaraderie as they were flogged in a gruelling session in sweltering heat.
"Some days I love that what I do is more of an individual sport, and most of it's on me," he said.
"To see them all training in the heat and have a bit of banter and all that, and just to see those relationships within all the players it makes you envious.
"You always want what you don't have."
It's all smiles as two proud Eagles get together. Picture: Getty Images 
Something Ricciardo wants even more is a Formula One world title.
After claiming the first pole position of his career, climbing back onto the winner's podium and finishing third in the world championship this year, the Perth product is eyeing a successful 2017 campaign – starting in Melbourne from March 23-26.
"Personally, I'm hoping for big things, but I won't get caught up in expectations of it all," Ricciardo said.
"We'll see what happens come the start of the season, hopefully we've got a good package with the car, but I'll put in an awesome pre-season come January/February and be ready to go.
"I'm looking forward to Melbourne."
