Midfield star Dom Sheed is looking forward to seeing some of West Coast’s emerging talent strut their stuff in the Eagles’ first clash against opposition for the year in Friday night’s practice match against Fremantle.
After being put through their paces in an intraclub, the next step for West Coast is to hit some bodies of a rival team before the ‘official’ pre-season outing, also against the Dockers, at Fremantle Oval on Sunday, March 6.
The likes of ruck-forward Bailey Williams and Jake Waterman, who snagged four goals in the intraclub and looked lively, are set for more opportunities in attack with young gun Oscar Allen (foot) and Jack Darling unavailable.
Sheed believed Williams had shown significant progress entering his fourth campaign on the list, while Waterman has enjoyed a strong summer after being hampered by back problems 12 months ago.
“It will be good to see how he (Waterman) goes this week in our practice match. He’s been good, I think taken another step forward,” Sheed said.
“With Oscar being out and 'JD' being out he’s taken more of a role down there and he’s thrived really.”
Williams could be Naitanui's sidekick in the ruck and split his time as a tall target alongside veteran Josh Kennedy and Waterman, who has kicked 50 goals in 53 games often as a mobile forward used up the ground.
“I think this pre-season he’s (Williams) taken a massive step forward. He’s a big body, he can take a big mark and he can jump and run as well, he’s fit,” Sheed said.
“If that was him that’s going to support Nic in the ruck I think he’ll do a great job of it, because he’s also a natural forward as well, so it would work well.”
West Perth forward Tyler Keitel and East Fremantle prospect Hugh Dixon are also looking at opportunities to impress after training with the squad over summer in the hope of earning a rookie spot.
Keitel, 26, snared 70 goals from 19 games to win the Bernie Naylor Medal as the WAFL's leading goalkicker last year.
“He's been good. He’s trying to learn the game plan at the moment, but we know he that he’s kicked a lot of goals in the WAFL, so he’s proven that he can find the big sticks,” Sheed said.
“Whether he can fit into our system or not we’re yet to tell, but he looks good around the club and the boys love him.”
Sheed got through the intraclub well following off-season shoulder surgery and is building nicely towards the season-opener against Gold Coast on March 20 at Optus Stadium.
He has had a busy off-season, and was recently married to partner Brooke, but his focus has quickly shifted back to football.
Last year’s runner-up in the John Worsfold Medal, the 26-year-old looms as a key cog in the engine room under new midfield coach Matthew Knights
Unfortunately, Subiaco product Greg Clark won't feature in the onball brigade during upcoming matches due to his own shoulder complaint, however Sheed likes what he has seen and backed the mature-age recruit to bounce back.
“It’s a long year, he’s got a full pre-season under his belt, he’s 24 years old, he’s very mature, so I’m sure he’ll handle it well and he’ll be back before we know it,” Sheed said.
Sam Petrevski-Seton was also injured during the intraclub, however there were positive signs as he jogged laps with his strapping on his knee at training on Monday.
Meanwhile, Sheed threw his support behind teammate Liam Ryan after another vile racist slur targeting his young family surfaced on social media at the weekend.
“We saw the Liam Ryan thing happen and it’s disgusting really – there’s no other way of saying it,” he said.
“It’s unacceptable and it’s disgusting to see. Liam had the day off yesterday to be with his family.
“This stuff continues to happen and it’s just not good enough. For him and his family to go through that yet again and for it to continually happen to players, not only in the AFL, but across the wider community, it’s disgusting.”
