After a difficult year on the injury front, midfield star Dom Sheed is feeling fit and ready to attack pre-season as he strives to take his game to another level.
Runner-up in the John Worsfold Medal in 2021, the loping left-footer was unluckily struck down by a nasty ankle setback in the Eagles’ first competitive pre-season match in February.
While he returned following a three-month lay-off, Sheed’s season was over in July after just one AFL game due to a stress-related lower leg injury.
But on the first ‘official’ day back for West Coast’s entire squad – although every senior Eagle had been sighted at Mineral Resources Park before the required start date – Sheed was running towards the front of the pack at training and appears in excellent shape.
“I’ve had a good, solid off-season of running and trained the last couple of weeks, so touch wood it stays that way,” Sheed said.
“It (leg) took probably 10 weeks to come back to normal. I spent about that time off legs once I had the stress-related stuff, and with those things they just take time.
“I feel fit and healthy now, which is nice.”
Sheed built his career-best campaign last year off the back of a standout pre-season, when he won the January 2km time trial and went on to average 26 disposals and played every match.
Despite his lengthy lay-off, the 2018 Grand Final hero is aiming to set a new high water mark in the prime years of his football journey.
“I’m in my 10th year at the club now, so one of the older boys, so hopefully I can get back to that sort of form that I was a couple of years ago but hopefully improve as well and get even better,” Sheed said.
“If you’re not striving to get better and take your game to the next level then you’re wasting your time being here.”
That relentless desire to improve has been a key factor in Sheed's development into a leader around the club, with the 27-year-old recently assigned as a mentor to top draftee Reuben Ginbey, along with second-year onballer Campbell Chesser.
Sheed, who was the Eagles’ first selection in the 2013 national draft at No.11 overall, has taken the fellow WA country product under his wing and is excited by Ginbey’s potential.
“I think he’s got to work extremely hard like anyone in the AFL to make it, but he’s got a good head on his shoulders, which is great,” Sheed said.
“I’ve got no doubt that he can have an immediate impact this pre-season and this season going forward.
“It’s an exciting time for our football club. We’ve got a lot of young blokes who played a lot of footy last year and then we’ve picked up some new talent as well.
“Provided everyone stays fit and healthy it will be an exciting year for us I’m sure.”
