West Coast captain Luke Shuey is keen to put a frustrating year behind him and the team in 2022, with the star midfielder excited about the Eagles’ prospects of challenging for finals again next season.
Following a 10-12 campaign, the Eagles fell just short of finals action last year in ninth spot on the ladder, and were September observers for the first time since 2014.
Hampered by soft-tissue injuries, Shuey was sidelined for all-but seven games and unable to impose himself on the contest in the big moments as Eagles fans are accustomed to seeing from the 2018 Norm Smith medallist.
“It was a frustrating year. From a win-loss point-of-view, we didn’t perform overly well, so the injury stuff everyone goes through it at some stage if you’re fortunate enough to play a long time in this game,” Shuey said.
“I had a really good run with injury for a long time, so I can’t really sit here and complain too much.
“But more wanting to get out there and help the team when we weren’t going so well.
“Even when I was able to get out there we didn’t go so well either, so that was frustrating we didn’t perform anywhere near where we expect ourselves to and where we knew we could.
“Looking forward to next season, it’s exciting, a fresh start and hopefully we’ll improve on what we did last year.”
Encouragingly, Shuey has been looking in terrific condition this summer, and is following a tailored program and measuring his training loads as he builds towards pre-season games against Adelaide and Fremantle.
“If your soft-tissue stuff is ongoing thing you’re always looking to change things,” Shuey said.
“Probably my last two or three pre-seasons have all looked different. But I’ve found a way to do it this year where it’s working so far.
“Touch wood and keep going.”
The 31-year-old declared he would be honoured to continue as captain in 2022, if that was what was best for the club, after only being able to lead the team into battle in 20 of a possible 41 games in the past two seasons since taking over when Shannon Hurn stepped aside.
“It’s interesting, you do need your captain out there playing, ideally,” Shuey said.
“If this was this time next year and I had another season where I hadn’t played too much footy it would definitely be something I’d consider.
“But at the moment I’ve still got to be confident I’m going to get my body right and be able to play a lot of footy this year.
“If that is to eventuate and I do get voted in as captain and that’s what the playing group wants, then I’m all for it.
“I’ve said before I only want to be captain if that’s something my teammates want – I don’t just want to do it for the title and to say I’ve been captain.
“I just want what’s best for the footy club and playing group.”
Turning his attention to the Eagles’ promising band of youngsters, Shuey has been impressed by what he has seen from West Coast’s five draftees – Campbell Cheser, Brady Hough, Rhett Bazzo, Jack Williams and Greg Clark.
The intensity at training has lifted at least a notch or two since the squad returned on January 6, and the draftees have handled everything thrown at them so far.
“It’s always a bit hard before we’ve got into games - quite often you think you’ve drafted five Brownlow medallists - but they’re all really good kids,” Shuey said.
“Campbell Chesser has really impressed with his attitude. Everyone knows the story of him driving over to Adelaide and then (flying) to Perth to quarantine just so he could be here on January 6.
“He’s lived out of home for three or four years at boarding school, so he’s done a lot of growing up and really matured at a young age.
“You can see that just through talking to him and seeing the way he trains, so we’re all really excited about him.
“It’s a really good group of young kids this year.”
