TOMMY Sheridan knew he needed to make a good first impression at his second AFL club, and he certainly ticked that box at Greater Western Sydney's first session of the new season on Monday.

Sheridan, who played 81 games in seven seasons for Fremantle before he was delisted by the club last month, was picked up by the Giants after they lost experienced midfielders Dylan Shiel (Essendon) and Tom Scully (Hawthorn) in the NAB AFL Trade Period. 

The 25-year-old began his stint in Sydney with a dominant performance in a 2km time trial, blitzing the rest of the Giants' first-to-fourth-year players to finish first ahead of Tim Taranto and Nick Shipley.

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The former Docker told AFL.com.au that although there's plenty of hard work to be done before next year, he was keen to start the season strongly.

"It was definitely a statement, it's all about earning respect," he said.

"That’s what I told (GWS list manager) Jason McCartney and Leon (Cameron) when I first met with them, if I was lucky enough to get an opportunity (with the Giants) I'd come in and work hard to write my own story.

"I'd done my program over the break and ran some good times, so it was just about proving it to everyone else."

Sheridan has remained close mates with GWS forward Matt de Boer and Western Bulldogs defender Hayden Crozier, who also departed Fremantle and have produced some good footy at their new clubs.

Crozier won the Dogs' most courageous award last year in his first season at the club, while de Boer has been an important player for the Giants in 30 games over the past two years and was elevated into the GWS leadership group last season.

Sheridan said the pair has provided the perfect blueprint for him to make the most of his new environment, and he'll continue to lean on them for advice.

"The way they carry themselves is how I want to carry myself," he said.

"They've done a great job coming in to a new club and training hard and being professional.

"I'll work closely with Matty and a few of the other guys I know.

"This place is so different (to Fremantle) but I'm already loving it, it's so mentally refreshing."

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Playing mostly as a defender at the Dockers over the past two seasons under Ross Lyon, Sheridan believes he plays his best footy further up the ground, and he's excited by the prospect of working under Cameron and GWS midfield coach Lenny Hayes.

"It would be good to cement a wing spot and work on that craft and improve myself under the new coaches who are absolute champions of the game," he said.

"The best way to attack is by taking each session as it comes, I know it's a cliché, but so many things can change in footy.

"I've had a lot of positional changes over the last few years, so it would be good to lock down a spot and not get thrown around.

"But I'm also a team man so I'll do whatever the coach says."

Tommy Sheridan out in front during the Giants' time trial.