Mark LeCras' season-ending knee injury was a massive blow to West Coast, but new recruit Josh Hill is desperate to take advantage of the opportunity it presents him.
Before the unfortunate training mishap on Thursday and scan results a day later which confirmed he would need a knee reconstruction, LeCras had a firm grip on the Eagles' forward pocket slot.
But with the 2010 All-Australian and club champion on the sidelines, Hill, acquired by the Eagles for a third round pick during trade week, has been presented with a huge chance to nail down a spot in John Worsfold's side.
The former Bulldog, a similar player to LeCras, will still face competition from the likes of Ashton Hams and Andrew Strijk, but Hill said he was relishing the challenge.
"It was pretty tough seeing him go down. It's a big blow to the team," Hill said of LeCras' injury.
"But I've been training and working on playing that half-forward role. So if the spot is there and I work hard to get it, then I'll work hard to keep it."
"He is one of the key players of the team, but it's showing a gateway to some of the younger players coming up to give them an opportunity."
"Training and being alongside him has shown me a few things to work on as well. He can be that role model for me and also the younger players."
Hill struggled to nail down a spot in the Bulldogs side in his final two seasons in Melbourne, but the 23-year-old Broome native was optimistic the spacious confines of Patersons Stadium would help his case at West Coast.
"I've played here a few times at high school and a few times playing the Eagles and Dockers. I should feel comfortable having a bigger ground," he said.
"Training here every day has made me feel a lot more comfortable coming out."
"Everyone's making it tough for a spot in the team, so we're all going to fight hard and we all show that on the training track."
Hill was named in the squad for West Coast's NAB Cup fixtures on Sunday against Fremantle and Essendon and is expected to be one of several Eagles players to make their debuts.
Draftees Callum Papertalk, Fraser McInnes, Simon Turnbridge and Michael Mascoulis were all in the squad, while the likes of Andrew Embley, Beau Waters and Will Schofield were left out with injury concerns.