West Coast Eagles coach Adam Simpson is apprehensive at declaring star midfielder Elliot Yeo will recover from a knee injury to play in Sundays big clash with Hawthorn in Melbourne.
Elliot Yeo is in doubt after a knee injury sustained in the battle with the Tigers.
Photo: Quinn Rooney
Yeo carried his injury through a stunning second half in the Eagles stirring win over reigning champions Richmond in Perth last Sunday and emerged at team recovery a day later with a compression bandage on his knee.
Simpson declared in his regular Monday night interview with Channel Seven that his in-form all-rounder was only a “50-50” chance to take on the Hawks.
The Eagles boss also couldnt declare that big possession-winning on-baller Luke Shuey would recover from a hamstring strain to resume playing this week.
Shuey, 27, has missed the Eagles last two engagements after he pulled his hamstring just two minutes into his sides big win over Port Adelaide in round seven.
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West Coast medical staff will asses scans from Yeos right knee as decisions are made on extent of his injury.
“We wont know on Elliot until tomorrow,” Simpson said.
“Luke might be 50-50, the same with Elliot.”
West Coast has healthy back-up in their wings in the event of a cautious approach with Yeo, who has nursed lingering knee niggles and hamstring tightness over the past month as a prime mover in the Eagles rise to outright top spot on the AFL ladder with an eight-game winning streak.
The reigning All-Australian utility player emerged as a candidate for best-afield with his 29-disposal outing against the star studded Tigers midfield battery.
Yeos brilliant display included 10 clearances and highlighted with two run-down-tackles to earn holding-the-ball free-kicks against superstar follower Dustin Martin in the third term.
If Yeo is forced to miss Sundays trip to Etihad Stadium, Simpson and his advisors could recall first-year midfielder Brayden Ainsworth who racked up almost 30 disposals in Eagles alignment outfit East Perth, despite a hefty 68-point thumping from South Fremantle.
Other candidates on the edge of recalls to the Eagles travelling party also include sweeping defender Jackson Nelson or hard-running follower Luke Partington.
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