SITTING across from John Worsfold, you would never know he has just emerged from the most traumatic period in the history of his beloved West Coast.
The Eagles’ coach readily answers questions about departed former captains Ben Cousins and Chris Judd, and speaks only of positives coming from dual investigations involving the club.
And when asked about what the future holds for him and his much criticised Eagles, the smile in his eyes belies the off-field dramas the club has encountered since winning the 2006 premiership.
"The biggest change when pre-season started was obviously a new captain straight away, no Chris Judd around and obviously no Cuz (Cousins)," Worsfold said.
"So it does (feel different), and the new leadership group are determined to put their stamp on it straight away.
"It is hard to measure the impact of losing a Chris Judd because it can open up other opportunities for other players.
"It might mean that Daniel Kerr has a better year, or that Brent Staker gets a chance through the midfield - it is very hard to predict.
"It is not all negative, that is what I am saying.
"When a player leaves, or retires for whatever reason, players take their place in different ways."
Another midfielder who has shown the capacity to step up is former rookie Matt Priddis, who finished fourth in the best and fairest last year in a breakthrough season.
With the departure of Judd to Carlton, and having lost Cousins, the Eagles are undoubtedly worse off in terms of playing stocks in 2008.
Eleven new faces on a list of 45 represents the biggest single turnover of players Worsfold can remember in his seven seasons in charge.
Branding themselves a "New breed of Eagles" in this season's advertising campaign, the coach says young players arriving at West Coast are now under no illusions what is expected of them under the leadership of new skipper Darren Glass.
"The key thing is that players who get drafted to this footy club have less scope to make mistakes than they may at other clubs," Worsfold said.
"Scrutiny is there, it does not matter if it is fair or not, it is just part of life.
"If they don't break team rules, or break the law, they have not got a problem, and the fact they are scrutinised more than someone in the general public ... you have just got to cop that."
And the fans will also have to cop Judd in navy blue in 2008, after his shock decision to leave the club he captained to a premiership a year before.
For his part Worsfold bears no grudges, and says he was comfortable with Judd's reasons for leaving.
"I did not have any disappointment with him leaving because it was a bit of a life decision with Chris," Worsfold said.
"If he had come to me and said, 'I don't think I can achieve what I want to achieve in my football career at this club', then I would have been disappointed.
"But I know his decision was more, 'I don't know what I am going into, and I am prepared to take that risk because I want to be back in Melbourne'."
And with Judd gone, more pressure will fall on the shoulders of Daniel Kerr - a role Worsfold said could bring the best out of the 24-year-old.
"He is the same person who is learning and maturing,” Worsfold said. “Daniel's effervescence is part of his life, it is not just on the footy field.
"We are hopeful he is through his adolescent period, but that is up to him to prove that.
"My argument always is that the guys who win the Brownlow Medal ... weren't just a good player that year.
"Chris Judd won the Brownlow medal getting tagged every week, so did Shane Crawford, so did Robert Harvey, so did Michael Voss.
"They get pretty heavy attention every week, but they are still among the best players every week.
"I can’t see why that trend would change - so I guess what I am saying is that ‘Kerry’ will win the Brownlow!"