After a disastrous 2022 campaign that saw the West Coast fall to their worst finishing position in the club's history, it's fair to say that fans are eager to see some improvement this season.
With Adam Simpson heading into his ninth year at the helm, Josh Kennedy hanging up the boots and key names set to return from injury, there's plenty of question marks hanging around the Eagles.
As the 2023 season approaches, we've taken a look at the five burning questions surrounding West Coast this year.
West Coast fans farewelled club legend Josh Kennedy in 2022 after a career that spanned 17 years, with the dominant key forward kicking 723 total goals to climb to the top of West Coast's all time leading goal kicking tally. With the spearhead, who led the club for goals in 2022, hanging up the boots, the Eagles now have a big gap to fill in the forward line.
Jack Darling is heading into the season under a slight injury cloud after he suffered an injury to his left ankle during the pre-season, but the club remains confident he will be fit for the season opener. The 30-year-old played 21 games last year and looms as the likely replacement atop the goal kicking ladder at the Eagles, but one young gun may use the absence of Kennedy to deliver on his long promised potential.
Oscar Allen was sidelined for the entirety of the 2022 season due to a foot injury, after a convincing 2021 showing. Despite being drafted as a key forward with potential, Allen found himself playing different roles in his first few seasons at the club as Kennedy and Darling held down the forward line, often playing as support in the ruck or defence.
But heading into this year with no Kennedy imposing on the competition's defences, it is Allen's time to shine in the forward line.
When Jai Culley was drafted to West Coast in 2022's mid-season draft, little was known about big-bodied youngster. Culley went on to play four games in 2022, making his debut against Hawthorn in 18 with seven clearances and 11 tackles to his name at the final siren. With a full pre-season under his belt, Culley is attracting plenty of attention as one of the best performers at training, shaving time off his 2km time trials and matching it with some of the club's best, pushing his case for a breakout season.
Meanwhile, Campbell Chesser's return from an injury interrupted 2022 campaign is gaining speed. The highly-prized draft pick failed to make his debut in his first season as an Eagle as an ankle injury kept him sidelined, but is building for a Round 1 debut after a strong showing in the Eagles' match simulation.
2022 was, to put it plainly, a disaster for West Coast. Injuries caused chaos, COVID-19 tore through the club, and the Eagles finished the year in 17th position with just two wins on the board and a percentage of 59.8%.
It wasn't just chaos at senior level, with the Eagles forced to forfeit some WAFL fixtures when they didn't have enough players to field a team.
Though there were clearly some extenuating circumstances fast-tracking the Eagles' descent down the ladder, can we be sure they'll bounce back in 2023?
The Eagles will be bolstered by the returns of Elliot Yeo, Dom Sheed and Oscar Allen, who dealt with ongoing injury concerns in 2022, set to be instrumental in any form resurgence we will see from the side.
After a decent pre-season showing against Port Adelaide, it does appear that we will see an improved version of West Coast this season, but with matches against 2022 finalists Fremantle and Melbourne in the first month of the season, we won't have to wait long to see if that's the truth.
The Eagles managed a ninth place finish in 2021, falling to 17th last season, with 2023 now emerging as a big question mark to decipher if the club is readying for another premiership push with their veteran talent, or committing to the rebuild that begun last season.
While the club does have the depth to be a good side, there is no guarantees of a bounce back after last season, and should their year not get off to the start they were hoping for, it poses a question for Adam Simpson, youth or experience?
West Coast have an average age of 24.4 years this season, ninth highest competition wide, with 74.3 average games played (7th in the competition).
Some of their young 2022 draftees, like Reuben Ginbey and Elijah Hewett, have impressed over the summer and could be in line for an early debut as the club looks to blood some more talent.
While all clubs rebuild differently, the Eagles' approach to keep on their veteran talent could either fast-track their climb, or leave them in the wilderness.
Tim Kelly is heading into his fourth season at the Eagles in 2023, managing 17 games in an injury interrupted 2022 campaign. Kelly's highly publicised move back home dominated trade discussion for most of 2019, due to Kelly's impressive from throughout, though since making the move west, we haven't quite seen that same level.
While Kelly's numbers have remained at the elite level, averaging 24.2 disposals last season, his impact on a struggling West Coast outfit hasn't been as noticeable.
Heading into 2023, reports suggest that a trimmed down Kelly is ready to regain the stellar 2019 form that saw him earn 24 votes and a fifth place finish in the Brownlow. The 28-year-old kicked two goals in West Coast's match simulation against Port Adelaide and was close to being his side's best on ground, leaving plenty of promise that this year we could see Kelly return to his early career form.