ADAM Simpson will spend this coming weekend with his newly formed West Coast coaching panel to discuss the Eagles' game-plan for season 2014.
The Eagles completed their new-look panel this week with only Justin Longmuir remaining from last year's match committee. Simpson has been joined by new assistant appointments Don Pyke and Brady Rawlings with Adrian Hickmott being promoted from a development coaching role.
Daniel Pratt, Adam Selwood and Jaymie Graham have all been contracted as new development coaches to work with long-time development coach Gavin Bell.
All were on hand at the Eagles' first day of pre-season as the first- to third-year players went through a series of kicking drills and hard fitness work on a warm November morning in Perth.
Simpson says he is excited about the coaching group that has been assembled and is unperturbed by its relative inexperience.
"It's a young coaching group but I like it that way," Simpson said.
"I think we'll grow that way and grow with the team.
"We're going to go away this weekend just to meet each other really."
Simpson believes the weekend retreat will provide the coaching group with the opportunity to start working on a new game-plan for West Coast.
"How we educate is really important as well," Simpson said.
"I need to find out where our coaching group is at with all that but I've definitely got some strong thoughts on where I see the game and where I see it going.
"Once we get that sorted then we'll present to the players."
Simpson spent most of day one of pre-season trying to get a feel for his younger players.
"I just want to see where they're at," Simpson said.
"Probably meet them individually, get those relationships starting [and] get a bit of a feel of their skill level as well ... It's a bit slow and steady."
The players were also put through a brutal series of 1km repeat runs. Midfielders Andrew Gaff and Mark Hutchings led the way. Simpson believes fitness is one of the Eagles' strongest assets.
"Definitely perception, from over east, that the main strength of West Coast is their endurance and their ability to run," Simpson said.
"So, my challenge now is to get that out of the boys on game day and use as a real strength."
The new coach is also pleased with the work of the Eagles' strength and conditioning team in preparing the squad for the new interchange cap.
"I'm really glad to hear that the club has been preparing for that for a while," Simpson said.
"I think West Coast has been one of the lowest rotating teams in the competition and that will be of benefit to us going down to 120."
