Healthy Eagles Ready to Fly

By ZAC MILBANK

Woodville-West Torrens coach Jade Sheedy has upped the ante with a rigorous running regime this preseason as he looks to guide the Eagles back into the finals in 2020.

Entering his first season at the helm of a SANFL club, Sheedy has his charges ultra fit after implementing a strong aerobic component to training, particularly before the Christmas break.

And it appears the playing group is responding with great positivity with only three key players – Jimmy Toumpas, Nick Hayes and Jack Firns – unable to join in full scale match practice held at West Lakes on Wednesday night.

Sheedy, a 2002 Magarey Medallist, is keen to inject more pace into the Eagles’ gameplan this year, both with leg speed and ball movement as they look to return to the top five.

This was discussed heavily at the club’s recent weekend camp to the River Murray town of Mypolonga, which also included team-bonding activities as well as football education.

Recovering knee reconstruction patient Tom Gray is moving well as he targets a Round 1 return since rupturing his ACL in the 2018 Second Semi-Final while Lachlan Jones is one of a host of younger players pushing for a League berth.