OUT OF respect it was only whispered, but before Saturday night's 52-point demolition of Greater Western Sydney some were questioning exactly where reigning premier West Coast was at.

Pundits have been prone to overreact to the fallout from round one, but the Eagles had been ambushed by a hungrier, cleaner and better-prepared Brisbane in the Lions' den.

Humid conditions were foreign, but in coughing up 14 goals to two after quarter-time, West Coast – coming off a shortened pre-season – had looked a step off the pace and there was cause for slight concern.

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Amid uncertainty about the balance of the best 22 with some first-choice personnel on the sidelines, the prospect of a 0-2 start with the Grand Final rematch on the horizon was real ahead of a Saturday night showdown with the rampaging Giants.

But an injection of run and an emphatic response against the visitors, who had smashed a listless Essendon to kick off their season in perfect fashion, reminded everyone that Adam Simpson's squad will still be a force to be reckoned with.

"(There was) a little bit (of relief). I think the first win is important for everyone just to remind ourselves that footy hasn't changed too much," Simpson said post-match.

Importantly, some key questions were answered:

  • Could the Eagles afford to carry two ruckmen when one of them wasn't Nic Naitanui, or should Oscar Allen be the pinch-hitter?
  • How many tall forwards could squeeze into attack, and would the smalls have an impact?
  • Did West Coast's kicking game style still stack up, or had opponents worked out how to shut it down?

Perhaps the most pleasing aspect for Simpson was ruck recruit Tom Hickey's excellent response to a quiet game at the Gabba, especially with the looming battle with Collingwood's star big man Brodie Grundy at the MCG next Saturday night.

Hickey's tap work was sublime, spoon-feeding Luke Shuey and Dom Sheed, but his impact around the ground was just as impressive after he and Nathan Vardy had, in Simpson's words, fought a "nil-all draw" against the Lions' big men.

It was precisely what the former Saint and Sun needed to remove doubt on his position, and he picked up 18 touches, took eight marks – a massive five contested – and booted a goal to go with 20 hit-outs.

"I think he had more possessions in the first four minutes than he did for the whole game last week, so that was a good start," Simpson said.

"Not that it's about possessions for us with our rucks, we get them to play a role, and that's something he's still learning.

"It's different to what the Saints used to do, so we've displayed a bit of patience with that, albeit we need that to work for us because it's a pretty big sacrifice playing two rucks.

"Tonight, it was in the positive for us."

With star spearhead Josh Kennedy back inside 50, the Eagles naturally looked more threatening.

They went 13-0 with both Kennedy and Jack Darling in the line-up last year, and with speedy duo Jack Petruccelle (13 disposals, one goal) and ex-Pies recruit Josh Smith (13, one) creating the pressure in attack West Coast lacked in round one, forward efficiency was through the roof.

"We brought in Smithy as a high half-forward to give us a bit more run and a smaller, quicker look," midfielder Dom Sheed told AFL.com.au.

"That seemed to work tonight. That might be a week-by-week thing.

"We'll leave that up to the coaches, but we definitely did look a bit quicker and move the ball like we wanted to tonight."

Slippery conditions in Brisbane didn't work to the Eagles favour.

For a team that kicked the ball more than any other side in 2018 on the way to a stunning premiership, they couldn't get their ball movement going.

There were warning signs early against the Giants, who were up 14-2 in the inside 50 count in the opening term, but West Coast clicked into a familiar gear.

Gun intercept defender Jeremy McGovern (11 marks, four contested), Tom Barrass (six) and Brad Sheppard (seven) stood tall down back when the heat was on in the first quarter.

But then Hickey, Darling (nine marks, four goals), Kennedy (eight, one) and emerging star Oscar Allen (five, three) combined well as West Coast dominated the skies (146-109 marks).

"We didn't look great early. A lot of fumbles and stuff. But I don't think that's because of confidence, I just think the heat of the game and the pressure GWS was putting on was really good," Sheed said.

"We eventually got into the game and were a lot cleaner around the contest and matched them in the air and on the ground, so that was pleasing."

There has been a feeling West Coast is still sorting itself out in the early stages of 2019.

But the longer the Giants clash went on, the more assured the Eagles looked in a tune-up for the Pies.

The shuffling of the decks will continue against the Pies when star midfielder Andrew Gaff returns from suspension and underrated small forward Jamie Cripps puts his hand up.

With Naitanui (knee), plus premiership duo Willie Rioli (foot) and Will Schofield (corked quad) still in the wings, the Eagles' squad looks even deeper than last season.

We are only two steps into a marathon, but there should be no doubt West Coast remains one of the teams to beat in 2019.