McQualter admits Yeo unlikely to return this season
West Coast Andrew McQualter concedes gun midfielder Elliot Yeo is 'running out of weeks' to play a game this AFL season.
Yeo has been sidelined since the pre-season with foot and ankle issues and suffered a further setback last week.
'He just hasn't progressed as well as we'd hoped when integrating back into training,' McQualter said.
'So we're just gonna do a bit more research, and we'll know a bit more within the next week or so, which is a bit of a shame.
'It's been a really challenging period, and for us as well, he's an important player in our team, but we'll keep working with him and try and find the best outcome we can.'
Earlier this week, Yeo accepted he might not play this year, with Eagles great Guy McKenna imploring the club to put him on ice to ensure he can be fit for next year.
Asked if it was worth the risk of playing Yeo this season, McQualter said, 'We're running out of weeks. There's no question there. But still think it's very important that we still set him up for success, whether that he plays this year or not. We'll keep pushing into rehab.'
Yeo, 31, is in his 14th AFL season and is contracted til the end of 2027.
McQualter said competition for spots was strong with Matt Owies (four) and Noah Long (three) both among the goals in the WAFL last week and said Campbell Chesser played his best game for the season.
The Eagles travel to Adelaide Oval to play Poet Adelaide on Sunday where they have their last nine games by an average of 63 points.
More to come
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