The Port Campbell-raised defender, who played for Timboon Demons before a stint at AFL club Adelaide, will lead the Eagles into battle against North Adelaide at Adelaide Oval in front of a capped crowd of 25,000.

Thompson, 29, said he was pleased with his side's mental toughness in 2020 as the league navigated the coronavirus pandemic.

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The SANFL managed a 14-round season which allowed teams to play each other twice and opted for a top-four instead of top-five owing to the absence of AFL reserves sides Adelaide and Port Adelaide.

Woodville-West Torrens finished atop the eight-team ladder with an 11-3 win-loss record.

Thompson said it was pleasing to overcome "a bit of turmoil and adversity with the COVID stuff".

"I think to win a grand final in this sort of season, where we had to send players away (for a period) and they stayed fit and we came back in pretty good shape, it would be pretty special," he told The Standard.

Thompson, who suffered a calf bleed mid-season which sidelined him for four matches, will hold down a key defensive post against North Adelaide.

He won a flag with Woodville-West Torrens in 2011 when he was on Adelaide's AFL list.

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The father-of-one also played in losing SANFL grand finals in 2015-16.

This week will be "business as usual" as he prepares for another premiership tilt.

"I am at work today and will work all week and try and keep it pretty simple," Thompson said.

"The Sunday game is handy when you're working because you get the Saturday to rest.

"You don't change stuff at this time of year, especially when we've had a pretty good season."

Having wife Caitlin and daughter Lacie, 18 months, in the crowd will be a source of pride for Thompson.

"Lacie is at the age now where she knows what is going on and she's screaming out 'Eagles' on the sidelines so it makes it pretty special," he said.

Thompson said ex-AFL players Jimmy Toumpas (Melbourne and Port Adelaide) and Jordan Foote (Sydney) would play crucial roles for Woodville-West Torrens as would James Rowe, a small forward who kicked five goals in the Eagles' preliminary final win against South Adelaide.

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"Jordan has grown another leg this year, he's super fit and runs up and down the ground all day and his disposal is elite," Thompson said.

Another to watch for is one of Thompson's back line buddies. Lachie Jones is linked to Port Adelaide through the Next Generation Academy system.

"He is like a Shannon Hurn-type player. He reads the ball pretty well, has strong hands and good disposal," he said.

"I haven't seen too many kids ready for AFL football like him come through the system so he is pretty special."