Tyros in sparkling shape for West Coast

Dom Sheed and Simon Tunbridge have emerged as bolters for West Coast's round-one side, with coach Adam Simpson saying they will be given every chance to stake their claims during the NAB Challenge.

Sheed, 18, arrived at the Eagles with their first pick in last year's national draft after a dominant under-18s championship for WA, and Tunbridge, 20, showed his potential with two goals against Adelaide late last season.

At the club's community camp in Albany yesterday, Simpson said although plenty of players had excited him over the summer, he looked forward to seeing how those two handled themselves in the pre-season competition.

"I'm excited with young Tunbridge, he looks like he's a man already and I expect him to have some impact in the pre-season," Simpson said.

"Dom Sheed, I wouldn't mind seeing what he can do as well and then of course there's second and third-year players we'll definitely try out.

"We've got 26 (players) to play with in the first round (of the NAB Challenge), so that gives us a chance to try out a few young guys."

Newly-appointed Eagles vice-captain Scott Selwood was another to praise Sheed's efforts since arriving at the club and declared he was willing to return to a more accountable role if the band of emerging midfielders needed more space to show their talents.

"Dom's got a big build, he can come in and is ready built for AFL footy," Selwood said.

"He's still got a lot to learn in terms of game plan and structure and things like that but his attitude and the way he goes about it is first class.

"We've lost a couple of older guys in Andrew Embley and Daniel Kerr and we'll start bringing in some new guys.

"It's probably better that they can go out there and just play footy and then I'll probably go back to playing more of a defensive role."

Simpson wasn't giving too much away but said the Eagles had been working on making players more flexible. Recruits Elliot Yeo and Xavier Ellis were good examples of what he was looking for.

Simpson said there were still plenty of kinks to iron out with the new game plan, but he had inherited a squad which was prepared to take the hard road.

"The way they train, it's elite," he said.

"I'm excited with young Tunbridge … I expect him to have some impact in the pre-season."" *Adam Simpson *