The emergence of several quality leaders within the West Coast Eagles playing squad will see the club move away from the traditional leadership structure in 2010.

Rather than the scenario of selecting a captain and vice-captain, West Coast will continue with Darren Glass as skipper for a third year, while his network of deputies will consist of six players.

Adam Selwood, Beau Waters, Matt Priddis, Josh Kennedy and Shannon Hurn have been promoted to sit alongside Dean Cox, who was vice-captain last season.

Each year the club reviews its leadership structure in consultation with the players, and the match committee has rewarded the outstanding development of those players who have been elevated to the second rung of the leadership structure.

“The club has been developing this structure for a couple of years,” Glass said this morning. “A lot of time and effort has been put into our leadership programs in the last few years and that is reflected in having six guys who can give me all the support I need.

“It is a demanding, but rewarding job being captain and it is great to be able to call on the experience and knowledge of all of those players.”

Cox said he was delighted to see some new faces in the senior leadership group.

“The personnel in our squad has changed quite dramatically over the last few years and it has been good to see a number of those players emerge in a leadership role,” Cox said.

“It is an exciting time for our club and the senior leadership group has an important role to play in assisting the development of the younger guys.”