Draw assessment
Ten interstate trips is already a challenge, but West Coast's tough draw will be compounded by seven six-day breaks, which is more than average. The team will also have to travel at the end of two of those shortened weeks. Of last year's other top four sides, the Eagles face Collingwood and Hawthorn twice, and Geelong once. They face Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast once each. 

Pivotal match
Road wins will shape the Eagles' top-four chances, with their round one clash against the Western Bulldogs an opportunity to set a pattern for the year. After suffering a slew of injuries late in the pre-season - and against a side buoyed by new coach Brendan McCartney - the clash against the Bulldogs shapes as a danger game.     

Injury list
The Eagles' forward line has been hit hard by injuries, with Mark LeCras (knee) ruled out for the season, and Mark Nicoski (hamstring) likely to miss the first half of the year. Josh Kennedy remains under an injury cloud as he battles the foot injury plantar fasciitis, and Quinten Lynch (hamstring) and Chris Masten (jaw) have had interrupted preparations for round one.  

Track specialist
It has been noted by some senior players that the last Eagle to dominate a pre-season like Luke Shuey did this summer was premiership captain Chris Judd. Shuey suffered a minor interruption when he rolled his ankle at training three weeks ago, but the fitness base he built pre-Christmas and the form he showed on the track suggests he is in for a big season.    

Dream Team special
Beau Waters (DEF, $338,200) has shown this pre-season why he was a Dream Team favourite in 2010, notching scores of 93 and 90 in his two NAB Cup matches. Another elbow injury led to some lacklustre scoring towards the end of last year, but expect the vice-captain to bounce back and provide excellent value in 2012.  

Draftee watch
Powerful young forward Fraser McInnes has made the biggest impact of the Eagles' draftees this pre-season, impressing through the NAB Cup, particularly against Port Adelaide in round two. The strong-marking forward will likely develop in the WAFL this season, along with Murray Newman, who has shown good speed and agility on the track. 

Needs a big year
The Eagles have been patient with Tom Swift, but, after 28 games in three seasons, the time has come for the midfielder to play to his potential and demand a regular senior spot. Kicking efficiency remains his biggest flaw and it needs to improve significantly, but there is much he can offer the team as a contested ball winner with a creative, attacking handball. 

Best and fairest tip
Midfield workhorse Matt Priddis was pipped by captain Darren Glass in a count-back last season, finishing runner-up for the second year straight after an ultra-consistent campaign that saw him lead the AFL for contested possessions (average 14.5). The clearance specialist is durable, consistent and does the hard things coaches love, with more individual improvement expected in 2012.

The Eagles will have a good year if...
...the senior core can reproduce their outstanding efforts of 2011. More improvement should be expected from important youngsters Shuey, Andrew Gaff, Jack Darling and Scott Selwood, but there is a risk senior players like Dean Cox, Darren Glass and Andrew Embley could tail off after playing career-best football last year. If they can reproduce that form, the Eagles will be flying.   

The big issues
-The Eagles have lost a combined 88 goals from their 2011 forward line with LeCras and Nicoski sidelined, and it appears Kennedy will have to play through injury. That makes the forward line John Worsfold's immediate concern.

-Worsfold also faces tough calls at selection if he wants to continue the development of his young players. Ash Smith, Koby Stevens and Brad Sheppard are all capable of playing regular senior football, but their selection would likely come at the expense of senior players who have done the job before. That presents a challenge for Worsfold with the Eagles in the premiership mix.

Best 22
B: Sam Butler,  Darren Glass, Will Schofield
HB: Beau Waters, Eric Mackenzie, Shannon Hurn
C: Luke Shuey, Daniel Kerr, Matt Rosa
HF: Andrew Embley, Quinten Lynch, Mark Nicoski
F: Nic Naitanui, Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling         
FOLL: Dean Cox, Matt Priddis, Scott Selwood          
I/C: Andrew Gaff, Adam Selwood, Chris Masten
SUB: Josh Hill

AFL.com.au predicted ladder finish: 6th

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL