West Coast and Fremantle's new recruits provided early value but it was the fortuitous Eagles who triumphed by 17 points in an entertaining pre-season cup match at Subiaco Oval.

But not before controversy erupted in the third quarter with the Eagles fielding 19 players in the opening minute of the second half.

Dockers football operations manager Steven Icke is understood to have had an animated conversation with AFL official Rod Austin about the extra man.

If Fremantle had lodged a complaint to the umpires at the time of the indiscretion the umpires could have ordered a head count and penalised the Eagles their 60 first half points.

But both teams would have overall been pleased with their major off-season buys in front of a healthy crowd of 32,701 on a barmy night.

West Coast eventually ran out winners 1.13.0.13 (100) to 1.11.1.5 (83).

Former Brisbane premiership player Des Headland had an excellent first half for the Dockers while ex-Hawk Daniel Chick and former Collingwood player Damien Adkins both showed quality touches.

Midfielder Chad Fletcher and forward Andrew Embley impressed for the Eagles, while big man Michael Gardiner finished off a strong showing by sealing the match with a late nine-point goal.

The Eagles were favourites against an injury-ravaged Fremantle but the port club had the better of their cross-town rivals in the opening quarter with an 18-point advantage.

Headland and Matthew Pavlich were highly influential early on but former Magpie Damien Adkins showed some fine touches to inspire an 11-point halftime lead.

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