WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson admits Jack Redden and Lewis Jetta have a point to prove following their underwhelming debut season at the club.

Jetta and Redden were slated for important roles after being picked up by the Eagles during last year's trade period, but both players failed to fire at their new club.

Former Swan Jetta was dropped three times last season, while ex-Lion Redden struggled for form in his 15 appearances before finishing the year in the reserves.

Redden turns 26 later this month, while Jetta is 27 and has a premiership already under his belt.

Simpson expects the pair to have a bigger impact in 2017.

"I would have thought both of those players would be disappointed with last season," Simpson said.

"They both turned up (to this pre-season) in really good nick - personal bests in time trials.

"They both came back early. There's a bit of drive there.

"You can see the look in their eyes already, so there's a point to prove."

Simpson has high hopes for what new recruit Sam Mitchell will bring to the club next season, while ex-Roo Drew Petrie is also set to become an important cog.

With Nic Naitanui and Scott Lycett sidelined with knee injuries, Petrie will battle it out with ex-Cat Nathan Vardy to become Jonathan Giles' ruck back-up.

Naitanui is on track to play in round 15 or 16, while Simpson says Lycett will return in the early-to-mid part of the season.

West Coast reached the Grand Final in 2015, but they were knocked out of the finals race at the first hurdle last season by a rampant Bulldogs outfit.

Simpson said he had taken a good look at that home defeat to the Bulldogs, who went on to win the flag.

"It was a really disappointing game - just as disappointing as the Grand Final the year before," Simpson said.

"We reviewed it straight away.

"Looking at the rest of the finals series, it probably proved how good the Bulldogs are, and how much work we need to do to get up to that standard."