The new leader at Gordon is preparing for a nine-week pre-season blitz, which he hopes will have the Eagles ready for their 2018 Central Highlands Football League campaign.

Watt, who was appointed as Gary Learmonth’s successor in November, said he is excited to be back in charge of a senior side.

“It has given me a real burst of energy and I’m very enthusiastic about it,” he said.

“I actually can’t wait. I have had to hold myself back a bit so we didn’t start too early.”

Watt led a few training sessions before Christmas, but is planning to up the anti on preparations from early February.

“I was really impressed with the attitude of the players before Christmas with the little bits and pieces we are implementing in their training,” he said.

“They were very receptive to things I was talking about.”

Watt is planning to integrate other clubs into semi-competitive training during the coming months.

He said the Eagles had a practice match booked against Ararat, but was looking for one more before the start of the season.

Watt is a highly respected Geelong football figure. He played two games for the Cats, but is probably best known for his roles off the field. Among a number of coaching positions, he guided the VFL side for five seasons, winning the flag with a team featuring Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel, Steve Johnson, Paul Chapman and James Kelly.

Gordon has recruited well for 2018, with a string of senior players putting pen to paper.

Perhaps the most exciting of those is hard-at-it onballer Ethan Crackel, who has won the past two senior best and fairest awards at Bendigo league side Maryborough.

Former Eagle Angus Watts is back, while Andrew Siekai, Taylem Wason, Lucas Mackley and Blake Rudland-Castles are other key recruits.