WEST Coast captain Darren Glass is confident the Eagles have a group of young leaders capable of filling the breach left by their experienced retirees.
With an expanded leadership group that included 11 players in 2012 and 10 members last season, the Eagles have been able to develop leadership in their emerging players.
Following the retirements of Andrew Embley, Daniel Kerr, Adam Selwood and Mark Nicoski, Glass said the club's young players had a chance to contribute more in 2014.
"There's more opportunity to stand up and speak up and take responsibility, and we're seeing that already," he said on Saturday.
"West Coast has always run a great development program in terms of leadership and we've got a great young group coming through.
"We've got a lot of younger players in the leadership group as it is with Scott Selwood, Eric Mackenzie and Luke Shuey in there already."
Glass has put his hand up to captain the Eagles again in what is almost certain to be the 32-year-old's final season.
Beau Waters has been sole vice-captain for the past three seasons, while Selwood's leadership ability is highly regarded.
New coach Adam Simpson will make a call on the 10-man group at the end of January.
Glass said Simpson was putting his stamp on the club and the players were building their knowledge of the new coach's game plan.
"We're starting to get some chemistry and we'll keep working on that," he said.
"We've got a new game style to implement this year and to learn, so everyone's doing that … it's been a pretty busy time but we're making progress.
"He's really keen for the guys to take the game on and play footy, so we should play a pretty good, exciting brand of football."
Simpson said the list was in good shape heading into the Christmas break, with more than 30 players taking part in every session.
Developing key forward Jeremy McGovern has returned to the main group after he was sent to train away from the club until his conditioning improved.
Nic Naitanui (groin) and Waters (shoulder) continue to be managed carefully, but Simpson said the Eagles hoped to have a clean injury slate in January.
"At the moment we're just taking it easy with those guys … there's no need to rush them back early," he said.
"There was some planning they did towards the end of the season that will probably pay us back next year.
"We're just being patient."
