BUILDING a detailed knowledge of coach Andrew McQualter's game plan has been the biggest step West Coast has taken this season, with co-captain Liam Baker declaring the Eagles are now desperate to fast-track their improvement after a frustrating losing run.

Baker has been a crucial leader in McQualter's first two seasons as coach, helping set standards and teach a new game style as a senior leader last year and then co-captain this season.

The dual premiership player has not had the season he wanted personally after winning the club champion award last year, but his off-field leadership has been highlighted internally as the Eagles build around a new core of young players.

Embedding a new game style has been the biggest area of progress this season according to Baker, giving the players a platform to drive the rebuild forward as their young stars gain more experience.

"From where we were this time last year to now, there's no question we've improved a lot," Baker told AFL.com.au this week. 

"Understanding our game style and the way we want to play, that takes time and we're not there yet, obviously.

"But once you know what your role is and know what other people's roles are, you can keep each other accountable and help each other out there on the training track and just focus on pure intensity at training.

"There's no doubt in my mind we've improved, and we're not sitting here waiting for it to happen. We're trying to fast track that as much as possible."

Pressed on where else the Eagles have improved this season, Baker highlighted training standards and the team's defensive structure on game day, conceding 99.9 points a game after last year's average of 106.0.

The dual premiership player was a frustrated onlooker last Sunday, nursing a calf injury as the Eagles lost to his former club Richmond, and he understood the broader disappointment among fans during an eight-game losing run.

The progress happening behind the scenes, however, gave him confidence that the Eagles improvement this season was greater than their four wins reflected.

"It's hard sometimes because you want that reward for effort, and in footy that is wins," Baker said.

"But sometimes you need to look at it through a different lens, and 'Mini' is good at showing us where we've improved across time, while also not shying away from the fact we still have lots to work on.

"You want to be winning every week, and a couple of wins would have been nice for our effort over the last eight weeks.

"But we're staying on the same course. There's a lot of belief in the room – whether you're a player, a coach or staff – that we're going in the right direction."

West Coast's second loss to Richmond this season prompted questions this week about the club's rebuild and whether it was on track under McQualter, despite several competitive performances this year against finals-bound opponents.

The club has a record of 5-38 under the second-year coach, but progress has been clear in the team's forward-half game and ability to compete at stoppages and around the ground contests.

Moving the ball from their defensive half and converting inside 50s into scoring opportunities remain significant areas for improvement.

Baker has worked with McQualter for eight of his nine seasons as an AFL player and said the coach was on top of his game.

His strong connection with the players made the loss against the Tigers even more disappointing, given the group wanted to secure a win for the coach.

"The boys love playing for him, and that was probably one of the main things on the weekend that was so disappointing," Baker said. 

"Everyone was dying to get a win for Mini, and I know he was the same for the boys. He's been great this year, as he was last year. 

"He wants everyone to get better, and he challenges the leaders pretty hard because that's where the growth is, filtering down into the group."

Helping guide West Coast's young players and watching them fight to get better has been the most enjoyable part of Baker's season, with the 28-year-old enjoying the added responsibility as co-captain alongside Liam Duggan.

His ability to drive connection among the players and staff has been a feature of his leadership according to football staff at West Coast, organising moments through the year to bring the club together.

Building team spirit among the young players has been particularly rewarding in a season that has seen Harley Reid elevate his game further and Willem Duursma, Jobe Shanahan and Josh Lindsay all earn Telstra AFL Rising Star nominations.

"The young boys are the energy of the group, and they're the ones coming in and trying to find their feet, play well, and understand themselves," Baker said.

"It's just about buying into who they are and what they're good at and getting around them, and that's been the most enjoyable part; seeing them have fun, have a laugh, but then train their arses off.

"You hear it across the league when you become an older guy in a group, it's just fulfilling seeing young guys play well and be desperate to get better."