WEST COAST’S Sharrod Wellingham was placed under the microscope during the pre-season as he entered the final year of his contract, but Eagles coach Adam Simpson says the 26-year-old has responded well to the extra pressure.

Wellingham was under the pump to deliver as he entered the final season of a three-year deal at West Coast.

A high-profile recruit from Collingwood at the end of 2012, Wellingham’s first two seasons at the Eagles were plagued by injury setbacks and poor form. He was dropped last season before a knee injury while playing in the WAFL ended his season prematurely.

Back in February, Simpson said that getting the best out of Wellingham had been one of his major goals since arriving at the club.

Wellingham has been used in a new role in defence over the last three weeks, and Simpson is very happy with how he is playing.

"We've been pleased," Simpson said on Friday.

"We swung him down back three weeks ago. He plays on instinct a fair bit. He's brought another dimension with our rebound and how we defend. He's working well with our backs. He's playing his role, it's a different role but he's adapted to it. 

"He is a player that can play in various positions. At the moment he's complying to what we want to do off the ball and he's contributing with the ball. So we've been happy with his form."

Eagles defender Will Schofield echoed Simpson’s praise of Wellingham earlier this week.

Schofield said that Wellingham had been a valuable addition to the Eagles' makeshift defensive unit in the absence of injured senior players.  

"He's had a good year to date," Schofield said.

"It's been good having him down back. He adds a little bit of something that has probably been lacking a bit.

"He gets a bit of the ball, he uses it well. He's also defending well, which is really important in the backline.

"I love having him down there at the moment."