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WESTERN Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade believes the game has improved dramatically since his involvement at the highest level began in 1976.

On the eve of his 500th game as a player and coach, Eade said the game today is better than ever, owing to the demands on players and the spectacle those encourage.

"As a product, looking at it aesthetically and from a spectator's point of view, I know the old timers – and I'm an old timer myself – probably think of the way footy used to be played, but I think it's the best it's ever been," Eade told westernbulldogs.com.au.

"I think the game is quicker and faster, there's more scoring and it's more continuous. The skills have improved, and people don't believe me but I think the game is tougher with what we expect players to do, and not only from a running point of view.

"With the contests and the way the players will themselves into a contest, I think it's tougher and has just really improved."

On Friday night, Eade will become the 16th person in history to be involved in 500 official games, behind Kevin Sheedy, Jock McHale, Leigh Matthews, Mick Malthouse, David Parkin, Ron Barassi, Norm Smith, Allan Jeans, Robert Walls, Tom Hafey, John Kennedy, Percy Bentley, Dick Reynolds, Phonse Kyne and Paul Roos.

Eade boasts 229 games played for Hawthorn – including four premierships – 30 played for the Brisbane Bears, 152 coached at the Sydney Swans and 88 games – and counting – at the helm of the Western Bulldogs.

"Like a player with any milestone, you look back at these things when you finish and I guess it shows your longevity in the game," he said.

"It's a positive thing for me. I look back on it all and the whole industry has changed enormously in the time I've been involved.

"The changes occur very rapidly these days. It stayed the same, when I first started, for 10 years or there were minor changes, and it's changed very rapidly once it's headed towards more full-time in the late eighties.

"It's been changing rapidly ever since. There's more staff and sports science and obviously the way the game is played as well – it's changed dramatically."

Eade wasn't always destined for a football career, having shown promise as a young state cricketer in his native Tasmania.

However, when he was approached by Hawthorn after a year of senior football at Glenorchy in 1975, the decision was pretty much made for him.

"I had the offer to go to Hawthorn and, at that stage, there was a long way to go before I reaped any benefit as far as selection for higher-rated squads in cricket," he said.

"It landed in my lap and you take that; you see where it leads and how it unfolds, and for me, it fortunately unfolded okay.

"Before I came to Melbourne to play with Hawthorn, I probably thought cricket was going to be more of a game for me than footy.

"But, footy has been a great career path, it's become a passion, and I love being involved in it and you meet some great people. I'm very fortunate to get up and go to work every day looking forward to it."

When he started coaching the Swans in 1996, Eade had one full-time assistant and the players were part-time.

Now, he has an extensive team to help him "shape the lives and footy aspects" of the young Bulldogs at Whitten Oval, which is something he admits he enjoys immensely.

"The game is more demanding; the players are better prepared these days," he said.

"With the sports science and knowledge base that we've got to prepare players and having them full-time, you can put more into them.

"There's a lot more thought going into training and the way the game is played, but it's allowed coaches and people involved with a team to think about the game more.

"There's more preparation and education and knowledge we give the players as well, and what we expect from them is a lot more with game plans and styles and defensive measures, but also zones and kick-ins and stoppages and tactics and thoughts about how the game has played.

"It's all changed very dramatically since I first started."