Yeo a chance for Suns
Elliot Yeo is a strong chance to return for Sunday's match against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium, with the emerging West Coast midfielder pressing his case to be recalled.
The 20-year-old trained with the main group during an open session at Patersons Stadium yesterday and was the last player to leave the track.
He is pushing to join Scott Selwood (ankle) and Nic Naitanui (Achilles) as inclusions.
But Xavier Ellis could have run out of time in his brave bid to play just three weeks after seriously injuring his right AC joint. The former Hawthorn premiership player was sighted in discussions with medical staff as he left the field following training.
Yeo has not played since breaking a hand in the round-13 win over Gold Coast.
He was originally expected to miss seven weeks after requiring surgery, but has been sidelined for two-and-a-half months.
The former Brisbane player showed his capacity to have an impact in the midfield before being injured, racking up 23 disposals and seven clearances against Hawthorn a week before breaking his hand.
Yeo's two seasons at the Lions equipped him to handle the humid conditions on the Gold Coast if recalled, with the nature of his injury allowing him to run and maintain his endurance levels while in rehabilitation.
He marked the ball without discomfort at training and joked with coach Adam Simpson during the session.
Ellis, 26, had his shoulder heavily strapped after being listed on Monday as requiring a fitness test to face the young Suns.
The versatile recruit is understood to still have soreness in the joint hurt in a marking contest during the round-20 win over Collingwood.
Ellis is believed to have sustained a grade-three AC joint injury that would normally sideline a player for up to six weeks.
He has missed only two matches and would be a selection risk if the Eagles gambled with his inclusion against Gold Coast, particularly given his injury history.
However, the 103-gamer is expected to be ready for a potential elimination final against either Port Adelaide or Fremantle the following week if West Coast beat the Suns and other results fall their way to help them sneak into eighth spot.
Selwood and Naitanui completed the one-hour session with the main group and are expected to replace Mark Hutchings (hamstring) and Dean Cox (rested) respectively.
The retiring Cox did not appear at training and appears likely to make the trip only in his role as ruck coach.
Adam Carter remains vulnerable at the selection table despite playing his role against the Demons, with the 20-year-old likely to make way if Yeo is selected.
Gold Coast could recall Karmichael Hunt for a likely farewell against West Coast with the code hopper tipped to return to either rugby league or rugby union next year.
Daniel Gorringe (knee), Steven May (hamstring), Trent McKenzie (hamstring) and Greg Broughton (elbow) are all pressing to return from injury in an added boost for the Suns.
