Yeo gets injury setback as Waterman, Hutchinson return looms
West Coast star Elliot Yeo’s return from a pre-season injury has been set back, while luckless midfielder Elijah Hewett will miss a second-straight week with a calf complaint.
It comes as the Eagles prepare to welcome back Jake Waterman and Jack Hutchinson to take on Carlton this weekend.
Yeo has not played at all this season because of a knee and ankle injury in January which required surgery, with the dual All-Australian set to be sidelined for longer than expected.
“Elliot has not been able to progress into higher intensity drills in the last week due to some lingering symptoms in his ankle, so he’s been in a holding pattern with his rehab,” Eagles high-performance manager Mat Inness said.
“As such, he is still at least four-to-five weeks away from returning to play.”
Hewett sustained “a low-grade calf strain” at training last Thursday, which ruled him out of the 81-point loss to Greater Western Sydney at the weekend.
The 20-year-old is coming back from a serious foot injury that cost him all of last season, having played the first three games of the year before the latest setback.
“It was extremely low-grade, however due to the injury happening on the Thursday, playing this week is just too soon, so he will miss this week,” Inness said.
But in better news Waterman (calf and back) and Hutchinson (hamstring) are a strong chance to tackle the Blues at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
“Jack Hutchinson had a great session on Saturday where he ticked all boxes required,” Inness said.
“Assuming he gets through training this week, he will be available for selection.
“Like “Hutch”, Jake Waterman had a great session over the weekend, ticking all boxes needed to return to play this week.”
Meanwhile, vice-captain Jeremy McGovern is expected to train alongside the WAFL group this week as he comes back from an adductor injury he sustained in the WAFL, while Campbell Chesser is back running after ankle surgery in February.
“Gov’ is starting change of direction and is expected to join in with some drills with the WAFL group back in Perth while the AFL group are away,” Inness said.
“We are expecting him to be back playing in the next week or two.”