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Craig O'Donoghue Partners with Harley Reid for a 12-Week Off-Season Fitness Breakthrough

  //health-fitness.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. r-a-12-week-off-season-fitness-breakthrough.html
  Published in Health and Fitness on Friday, November 7th 2025 at 13:45 GMT by The West Australian
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Craig O'Donoghue’s Off‑Season Fitness Campaign with Harley Reid: A Major Step Forward for the West Coast Eagles

Craig O'Donoghue, the West Coast Eagles’ versatile midfielder‑ruckman, has announced a new off‑season fitness program that could change the trajectory of his career. Working closely with renowned sports performance specialist Harley Reid, O'Donoghue aims to address long‑standing physical and technical gaps, build resilience against injuries, and position himself as a key contributor for the Eagles’ 2025 season. The article from The West Australian details the program’s structure, the motivations behind it, and the potential impact on O'Donoghue’s future with the club.

The Athlete and the Coach

Craig O'Donoghue has been a valuable player for the West Coast Eagles since his debut in 2020. With a height of 200 cm and an impressive athletic profile, O'Donoghue often finds himself in the ruck contests and inside‑middle roles. Over his first three seasons, he has displayed the raw talent required for a high‑impact player but has also struggled with consistency, injuries, and the sheer physical demands of the AFL’s congested fixture schedule.

Harley Reid, a former elite athlete turned performance coach, has built a reputation for tailoring programs that balance speed, strength, endurance, and injury prevention. His approach is data‑driven, leveraging wearable technology, biomechanical analysis, and periodised training plans. The West Australian article cites Reid’s previous work with athletes such as AFL star Dustin Martin and Olympic sprinter Ashleigh Barty, underscoring his credibility.

The Off‑Season Plan

The off‑season program is a two‑phase, 12‑week schedule that starts in late October and concludes just before the pre‑season training. O'Donoghue’s key objectives are outlined as follows:

1. Strength and Power Development
   Reid’s plan incorporates compound lifts—squat, deadlift, and bench—combined with Olympic lifts like the snatch and clean‑and‑jerk. These movements are designed to enhance O'Donoghue’s vertical jump, tackle power, and ruck contests. The article quotes Reid: “Increasing explosive power is critical for a player who needs to contest and win in the ruck while also being able to move rapidly around the ground.”

2. Aerobic Endurance and Conditioning
   A cornerstone of the program is a periodised running schedule. The athletes will cycle through long, slow distance runs, tempo runs, interval training, and high‑intensity shuttle drills. This is intended to improve O'Donoghue’s ability to sustain high‑intensity bursts throughout a match, a known limitation in his previous seasons.

3. Flexibility and Mobility Work
   To mitigate injury risk, Reid has added a daily mobility routine, focusing on hip, shoulder, and thoracic spine flexibility. O'Donoghue reportedly struggled with hamstring tightness in 2023, and this aspect of the program aims to reduce recurrence.

4. Technical Skill Enhancement
   In addition to physical conditioning, the program incorporates skill drills specific to the ruck and inside‑middle roles—such as tap‑technique refinement, marking contests, and ball‑handling under pressure. This ensures that the physical gains translate directly into on‑field performance.

5. Recovery and Mental Conditioning
   Recovery protocols—sleep optimization, nutrition guidance, and active recovery sessions—are integrated throughout the program. Reid also stresses mental resilience, recommending mindfulness practices and cognitive flexibility training.

The article notes that the program is “customised to fit O’Donoghue’s playing style and body composition,” highlighting that the coach is continuously adjusting load and volume based on real‑time performance data.

Why This Matters for the Eagles

O'Donoghue’s previous season was highlighted by moments of brilliance but marred by limited consistency. According to the article, the West Coast Eagles’ coaching staff sees this off‑season program as a pivotal factor in preparing the player for a more prominent role. Coach Adam Simpson’s comments—fetched from a separate interview linked within the article—reiterate the urgency of developing reliable ruckmen for the team’s strategic shift toward a more physically demanding style.

Simpson says: “Craig has the talent, but we need him to be injury‑free and able to carry a high workload. This partnership with Harley is exactly what we need.”

The article also references the Eagles’ 2025 recruitment strategy, which emphasises the development of homegrown talent. O'Donoghue’s fitness plan is presented as a template that may be replicated for other squad members, signalling a broader shift toward science‑based training culture within the club.

The Wider Context

A link within the article leads to a profile piece on Harley Reid, detailing his journey from a dual‑sport athlete to a sought‑after performance coach. The profile explains Reid’s methodology—focusing on fundamental movement patterns and progressive overload—and how his programs have helped athletes avoid the “plateau” that often afflicts elite competitors.

Another link directs readers to an interview with O'Donoghue himself, where he discusses the mental aspects of the program. O'Donoghue expresses a heightened sense of confidence: “Knowing that there’s a structured plan that takes into account everything from strength to mindset makes me feel more prepared.”

These supplementary resources provide readers with a comprehensive view of the program’s underpinnings and the mindset driving O'Donoghue’s commitment.

Anticipated Outcomes

The article outlines several potential benefits for O'Donoghue and the Eagles:

• Injury Prevention: By strengthening core muscle groups and improving mobility, the program could reduce the risk of hamstring and knee injuries that have limited O'Donoghue’s availability.

• Performance Consistency: Enhanced endurance and power are expected to translate into more consistent high‑intensity performances, especially during the grueling middle of the season.

• Leadership Development: With increased confidence and a stronger physical foundation, O'Donoghue may step into a leadership role, guiding younger midfielders and ruckmen.

• Club Culture: The partnership may set a precedent for data‑driven training across the Eagles’ roster, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

The article ends on an optimistic note, noting that the Eagles’ 2025 roster will “likely feature a more dominant ruck presence,” and O'Donoghue’s transformation is central to that narrative.

Conclusion

Craig O'Donoghue’s off‑season fitness collaboration with Harley Reid represents a strategic, science‑backed approach that could elevate the player to new heights. By addressing his key physical deficits, reinforcing injury resilience, and aligning technical skills with physical capacity, the program offers a roadmap for sustained success. The West Australian article, enriched by links to Harley Reid’s profile and O'Donoghue’s own commentary, paints a comprehensive picture of an athlete and a coach charting a deliberate path toward elite performance. The Eagles, and the AFL community at large, will watch keenly as the outcomes of this initiative unfold across the 2025 season.