Dalziell, who was traded to West Coast at the end of 2009 after two seasons and 15 games with the Brisbane Lions, was restricted to eight games in 2010, with a finger injury ending his season after round 14.
However, assistant coach Peter Sumich said Dalziell's impact when playing - particularly his ball-winning ability and efficiency - had stood out in the Eagles' young midfield.
The 23-year-old averaged 21 possessions and just 2.1 critical errors a game at AFL level this year, but he started his season in the WAFL and was sent back to East Fremantle on two other occasions.
"We underestimated Bradd's value to the side with his possessions and what he did do when he was playing," Sumich told afl.com.au.
"He found the footy and his use was very solid, so we're hoping for big things from Bradd.
"In his first year he had a few injuries, but in the games he did play his stats did stack up.
"He finds the footy and his use of the footy was solid. It's not elite, but it was very solid."
Dalziell stormed onto the AFL scene late in 2008, racking up 32 possessions on debut against the Eagles and earning a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination later that season.
However, a posterior cruciate ligament injury restricted him to just eight games in 2009 and he was traded to West Coast in exchange for Brent Staker and a third-round draft pick.
Sumich nominated the proven ball-winner as one of six players - alongside Scott Selwood, Chris Masten, Gerrick Weedon, Shannon Hurn and Callum Wilson - setting the standard so far in pre-season training.
The bulk of the Eagles' young list has been in training for a month now, while the club's most senior players returned to the track this week.
Sumich said there had been a big focus on skills from the outset.
"We've got to make sure our skill level is at the required level," he said.
Selwood appears to have lifted his skill level on the track after a season that saw him used in a host of negating midfield roles.
Sumich said the 20-year-old had learned plenty playing on the likes of Adam Cooney, Leigh Montagna and Jimmy Bartel last season, but the club sees him as a ball-winner.
"Tagging might go out the window in the future, but it taught him how to play on better players, how to get a kick, and he did that really well," Sumich said.
"If you look back at all good taggers, they eventually find the footy - they become high-possession players.
"His ability to win the footy in tight contests and then show some pace to get away from that contest has been impressive (in pre-season)."
Masten and Dalziell set the pace in West Coast's first 2km time trial when the players returned a month ago, and Masten has also pushed on to have an impressive first month of pre-season training.
