West Coast forward Jobe Shanahan opens up on pre-season focus as partnership with Jake Waterman looms

Jobe Shanahan says improving his strength and craft in marking contests is his top off-season focus as he eyes a forward-line partnership with Jake Waterman next season. Shanahan and Waterman are considered key pillars in West Coast’s forward line as the club regenerates its attacking set-up amid the exits of key-position stalwarts Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and Oscar Allen in recent years. The duo are yet to play a game together, with the first of Shanahan’s nine AFL matches last season coming a month after Waterman went down with a shoulder injury. Shanahan said he was keen to improve his contested marking prowess to add more strings to his bow, with 2024 All-Australian Waterman a worthy mentor on the training track. “Probably the main (focus) for me was more craft-based, like aerial craft - not getting pushed under footy too much,” Shanahan said on SEN. “There’s a need to get into the gym and put on some muscle, which didn’t go too bad. “(Waterman’s) a great mentor. I’ve learnt heaps from him since being at the club, and he’s been a big help. I‘m just trying to learn and listen to him as much as I can.” Shanahan was one of the bright spots in a bleak campaign for West Coast this year. The No.30 pick from last year’s draft booted 12 goals and didn’t miss a game following his round 16 debut, including producing three-goal efforts against Adelaide and Sydney in the final month of the season. The 19-year-old praised the new faces around the club for starting to foster a winning culture as the Eagles ramp up their rebuild. West Coast added two-time premiership winner Brandon Starcevich and his Brisbane teammate Deven Robertson, alongside other recruits from clubs with recent success, including Fin Macrae (Collingwood) and Harry Schoenberg (Adelaide). “Pre-season has been really good. I think we’re looking better,” he told SEN. “New players, new coaches... everyone looks like they’re cracking in. “Starc has played in two grand finals, and just to see him go about it with aerials and the way he trains... (the recruits) have brought competitiveness, and they want to win just like everyone here. “It’s just good to have people who know how to win around us.”