NEWLY appointed Western Bulldogs captain Easton Wood undertook extra training over the pre-season break in a bid to overcome a history of hamstring injuries.

Wood, who was announced on Monday as Robert Murphy's replacement, had a premature end to last season after injuring his hamstring in round 21.

As the more experienced Bulldogs joined the first-to-fourth-year players in pre-season training, Wood revealed he had continued his rehabilitation once the club's 2017 campaign had concluded.

Wood is an integral part of the Dogs' team defence, with the 2015 All Australian's intercept marking and reading of the play a constant threat to the opposition.

"I'm really happy to say I'm back to 100 per cent," Wood said on Monday.

"I kept training (after the season) until mid-October to get my hamstring 100 per cent right.

"Now that I'm back day one (of pre-season), I can't feel a thing.

After succumbing to hamstring strains several times throughout his nine seasons at AFL level, the 28-year-old conceded the injuries can "play on your mind."

"If you're running and you feel the slightest little thing, that alarm bell goes off pretty quickly and it can affect your confidence," he said.

"That's why I thought it was important to knock it on the head and make sure I've got no doubt in my mind that I'm fit and ready to go."

Wood is excited by what the club's latest three recruits could bring to his side, with former Port Adelaide utility Jackson Trengove and ex-Fremantle flanker Hayden Crozier joining former Lion Josh Schache on the track for the first time.

Trengove and Crozier appear earmarked for roles alongside Wood in defence.

"They've fitted in really well, (and) it's really exciting this time of year to meet those new faces and see what they can add to the group," Wood said.

"(Trengove's) versatility is something 'Bevo' and coaches will look to utilise and exploit (because) he's a big lad who can play forward, back and in the ruck, so he'll be valuable for sure.

"He's had a (leadership) role before, so that's certainly nice (to have)."

Wood's captaincy will be assisted in an official capacity by vice-captain Marcus Bontempelli, with Lachie Hunter, Jason Johannisen, Jack Redpath and Jordan Roughead rounding out a new-look leadership group.

Redpath's promotion could be seen as a surprise but Wood said the key forward's standing at Whitten Oval was the reason his peers voted him into the position.

The 26-year-old only signed his first two-year contract at the Dogs back in September after signing five straight one-year deals.

"I'm really excited to have Jack Redpath in the group (because) he's one of our hardest workers at the football club, and he keeps guys accountable," Wood said.

"He's only able to do that because some of the best relationships throughout the broader playing group, and the guys really respect him."