SHARROD Wellingham is fit, firing and set to show what he's capable of in 2015, according to West Coast midfield coach Brady Rawlings.
Wellingham is in the final year of a lucrative three-year contract after being traded to the Eagles from Collingwood for pick No. 18 in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft.
His first two seasons at West Coast have been little short of disastrous. In 2013, he managed just 10 games due to severe ankle injuries, one of which was self-inflicted in a bizarre accident on a trampoline during the pre-season.
Key Eagles return to training track
In his second season at West Coast, under a different coach, Wellingham was dropped on three separate occasions due to poor form.
He suffered a season-ending knee injury in late July while playing in the WAFL.
Wellingham worked hard on his conditioning prior to Christmas, and Rawlings told AFL.com.au that the 26-year-old is ready to be a key component in the Eagles midfield in 2015.
"This pre-season we've been able to train him a bit more as a midfielder since the Christmas break and he's coming along well," Rawlings said.
"We all know his talent. He's quite fit at the moment. He's strong, he's clean inside the contest and uses the ball really well.
"In possession, we know what he's capable of. It's just finding that balance with the other side of his game as well.
"He's got a good attitude, and we're all looking forward to him playing games and showing us what he can do."
Rawlings expected the Eagles midfield to have a better run with injuries in 2015. Wellingham, Elliot Yeo and Matt Rosa are all in good shape after injury-plagued seasons last year.
The major concern is Scott Selwood, but the vice-captain has ramped up his training load in recent weeks as he continues to recover from his ankle surgery. Selwood is on track to play late in the NAB Challenge and is expected to be fit for round one.
Rawlings said he was excited about what young midfielder Liam Duggan could produce in his first year. The 18-year-old from the Western Jets was the Eagles' first-round pick in last year's national draft and appears set to be given an opportunity in the NAB Challenge.
"Liam has got a lot of talent so we think he's going to be a player," Rawlings said.
"Probably at this stage we're looking at an outside role for him. He's been quite impressive at training with his ball use. He's a classy left footer."
