Young West Coast defender Brady Hough believes the mid-season bye was a great opportunity for the team to reset ahead of Saturday’s game against the Swans, and for the remainder of the season.
The injury-hit Eagles were challenged by serious availability issues in the first half of the campaign, and are hoping to add to their solitary victory so far on the run home.
“It’s been a tough start to the year for us, so it gives us a chance to reset,” Hough said of the mid-season break.
“We had a good session on Friday, a solid session, and we’re ready to attack the back end of the season. We’re really excited to get back and play some more games.”
After returning to the line-up following a hamstring injury, Hough reflected on the season so far and his personal development over the past few weeks.
“The last five weeks or so I’d say I’ve been building pretty nicely,” he said.
“I’m still just trying to get stronger, obviously I’m an undersized body but I think I’m getting there.
“Contest work is a big one for me and just getting clarity around my role, if I’m playing wing or half-back, just being able to perform wherever I play.”
Hough said having strong team role models is incredibly beneficial for players coming through the ranks.
“There’s a few really good role models, Liam Duggan has been a big one for me, especially while I’ve been playing in the backline, and Andrew Gaff when I’m on the wing,” he said.
“I have those great role models to learn off and pick their brains and I’ll continue to do that; they’ve been massive for me, and all the coaches have also been great.”
Twenty-year-old Hough said the return of senior players this weekend will be inspiring for the younger group.
“It’s really big, we’ll get ‘Gov’ (Jeremy McGovern), ‘TB’ (Tom Barrass) and maybe ‘Duggo’ (Liam Duggan) back this week, so three really good defenders and it just helps so much,” he said.
“We were undermanned last week, but just the communication aspect of it, the leadership down there really helps us young boys and it helps our game as well.
“They’re great players and they’ll bring what they’ll bring, but it helps the younger players to keep striving and we’ll play better with them around.”
