The journeyman forward is eagerly anticipating his first year of Melbourne-based football since 2004 when he joined the Essendon District Football League B-grade team.

Singh said he had dropped nine kilograms in preseason and had done his own running since October.

The key forward, who was drafted by Adelaide in 1999 but never played an AFL game, spent an injury-plagued year at Bendigo Football League side Eaglehawk last year, managing 14 games and 34 goals.

Battling finger, rib and medial ligament injuries last year, Singh, 27, was determined to turn his footy around.

"It was a really frustrating year, so I made a pact to myself to train really hard," he said.

"Working shift work was having a big impact on travelling to the country and I wasn't looking forward to all the driving again.

"I stopped enjoying footy for a while last year and just wanted to get back to enjoying it again."

Singh said he had initial reservations about playing for a B-grade team but since arriving at Airport West had been happy with the choice.

He said workmate Jason Clarke, also new to Airport West from Western Region Football League team Port Melbourne Colts, had been a big factor in his transfer.

Singh's last season of Melbourne football was with Lower Plenty in 2004.

He has since played with Mooroopna and Kyabram in the Goulburn Valley Football League and Central Murray outfit Balranald in addition to Eaglehawk.