Eagles accept Yeo's one-game ban
UPDATE: Elliot Yeo will miss West Coast's round nine clash with Geelong at Domain Stadium on Sunday after the club decided not to challenge his one-game ban for striking.
Yeo was yesterday offered a one-week suspension by the match review panel for striking St Kilda youngster Jimmy Webster in the second quarter of the Eagles’ 53-point win at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Webster left the field with the blood rule after Yeo caught him high in an attempted spoil and was later substituted out of the game with concussion, but that could not be attributed to Yeo’s challenge.
The panel rated Yeo’s action as careless conduct and medium contact, resulting in a one-week ban with an early plea.
The club made their decision not to appeal the suspension this morning.
West Coast risked losing Yeo for two games if they had appealed.
Yeo, 21, has been a revelation over the past month since moving into the midfield and has booted seven goals in his past two games.
Yeo also provided coverage in an undersized back line early in the season and would have been an option for Simpson to call on as they take on Cats talls Tom Hawkins, Mitch Clark, Shane Kersten and Rhys Stanley.
Mark Hutchings, who was a late withdrawal against the Saints with back tightness, is a potential midfield replacement for Yeo but both he and vice-captain Scott Selwood, who wore the green vest against the Saints, have had limited game time on return from injury.
Matt Rosa (hamstring) is unlikely to be ready to be available after missing the past four games.
Prime mover Luke Shuey, who received top votes in the AFL Coaches’ Association award for his 28-disposal effort against the Saints, said Simpson’s game plan was becoming more and more seamless and had driven their unbeaten five-game run.
“We’ve had full confidence since day dot with Simmo,” he said. “It was just a matter of trying to get it to become second nature. “It’s just a natural thing, you get new information, it takes a while to learn and we’re starting to pick it up pretty easily now.
“I think we've been fairly brave with the footy this year. “We're taking calculated risks but we've got some fantastic users of the footy in the team, particularly out of the back line which is where it's nearly most important.”
The Cats got some bad news of their own yesterday with veteran Jimmy Bartel hospitalised with an infection in the knee he had surgery after round three, further delaying his lengthy stint on the sidelines.
Geelong come to town without the intimidating aura they have held for a decade, but Shuey said they were expecting a tough contest.
“I think their record says they're not having as good a year, but they're certainly building,” he said. “Over the last few weeks you can't really fault them. “Obviously their personnel has changed a lot from four or five years ago, but some of their young kids are really good players and they've shown the last few weeks that they're winning games off their own boot.”
Shuey conceded the next month against fellow finals contenders Geelong, North Melbourne, Essendon and Richmond would be a major test to their credentials.
“I think after the next four weeks we’ll get a better idea of where teams are going to sit towards the back end of the year,” he said. “It is going to be a tough month for us and we’re really looking forward to it. “We’ve embraced every challenge that has been thrown our way and this is no different.”
Greater Western Sydney forward Cam McCarthy has won the round eight NAB rising star nomination on the back of his four-goal haul against Adelaide.
The South Fremantle product has played every game this season, booting 21 goals after breaking through for just one match in his debut year.
