2025 Hostplus Pocket Profile – Woodville-West Torrens

SANFL’s ZAC MILBANK breaks down all you need to know about the Eagles heading into the 2025 Hostplus SANFL League season.

COMING
Jack Hayes (returned/St Kilda), Nick Hayes (returned/Werribee), Kobe Mutch (returned/South Adelaide), Oliver Megins (South Adelaide), Liam Puncher (Sturt)

GOING
Luke Thompson (retired), Matthew Goldsworthy (retired), Jarrad Redden (retired), Troy Menzel (retired), Jack Firns (retired), Josh Morris (North Ballarat), Tyler Welsh (Adelaide), Charlie West (Collingwood), Josh Mawson (Queensland/Study), Dane McFarlane (Henley), Ryan Bruce (Riverton Saddleworth Marrabel United), Rome Burgoyne (Port Adelaide SANFL)

Friday February 28
Adelaide v Woodville-West Torrens at West Lakes from 5.30pm

Saturday March 8
South Adelaide v Woodville-West Torrens at Magain Stadium from 2.10pm

Saturday March 15
West Adelaide v Woodville-West Torrens at Hisense Stadium from 12.40pm

When Jack Hayes last played for Woodville-West Torrens, he was the most influential player in the Hostplus SANFL League.

He produced a stunning performance in the 2021 Grand Final to help the Eagles claim the premiership as he earned the Jack Oatey Medal for best afield.

Hayes, who was also West End State captain that year, now returns to his beloved club after a frustrating three-season stint with St Kilda, which yielded eight AFL games and nine goals due to a series of untimely injuries.

Now 29, the athletic utility is set to link up with older brother Nick at Oval Avenue as they attempt to push the Eagles back into premiership contention.

The only issue for coach Sam Jacobs will be where to use the 193cm Hayes, given he can play as a mobile ruckman, big-bodied midfielder, or commanding beacon in attack.

Versatile Eagle Lukas Cooke is being primed for a move into defence for season 2025.

And the 21-year-old has impressed on the track during summer, locking horns with Jack Oatey Medallist Jack Hayes and Team of the Year forward Connor Ballenden.

Boasting an exceptional leap and speed off the mark, shifting into the back half could be just the tonic for Cooke to kickstart his career after managing nine League games across the past three seasons.

Measuring in at 196cm and 89kg, he should be given plenty of opportunity to impress in the trial matches, with the absence of the retired Luke Thompson and injured recruit Liam Puncher.

SA U18 Coach Tony Bamford profiles the Eagles players for 2025

Jevan Phillipou
Jevan has been a standout performer during the State Academy program. His ability to deliver elite training standards week in, week out reflects his professionalism and focus. Jevan is an elite “gut” runner who was consistently at the front in our conditioning sets. He has shown an ability to win the ball from the air and the ground while playing as a midfielder/high forward. Jevan also possesses a unique ability to step laterally to get out of trouble when needed. Jevan has been working on finding ways to impact the game when he isn’t in possession of the ball such as improving his tackle technique and pressure skills. Jevan was one of our U17 players in the 2024 State Squad and has used that experience to his advantage in his preparation for season 2025.

Logan Hughes
Logan had a slow start to the Academy program but after some early feedback and his own self-reflection, he was able to find ways to improve his training performance significantly from start to finish. He plays as a key forward who uses his game smarts to get into the best position early in aerial contests against his opponents. Logan has worked hard on elevating his athletic ability over the summer period and now needs to translate that into more game impact, in all phases of play. Logan was one of our U17 players in the 2024 State Squad but unfortunately had an injury interrupted season as an u17 player. He is now ready to showcase his football ability in the early part of the season with a fit, strong and healthy body.

Jack Cook
Jack is a ball winner and seems to have the ability to attract the footy in all positions he plays due to his footy IQ being at an above average level. Most of his footy has been as a high half-back and a midfielder who likes to sweep the contest. He is smaller in stature so will need to be consistently above average with his clean hands, ball use and transition running in games to keep elevating to higher levels of football. Jack is also focused on improving his endurance to allow him to impact the game when the speed of ball movement increases.

Lachlan Sands
Lachie has an athletics background in sprinting events and you can certainly see that when he pins his ears back during training activities. He is a small outside player who likes to get speed into his team’s offence when he wins or recieves the ball. His top-end speed will attract the interest of AFL recruiters early in the season, but he will need to showcase his intent to use speed in both offense and defence. Lachie is invested to further developing his basic skill fundamentals such as clean ball takes and ball use.