Nobody has a better seat in the house to witness Nic Naitanui’s remarkable presence and impact on games than Elliot Yeo, who believes the West Coast superstar deserves a spot in this year’s All-Australian team.
Naitanui is in the mix for his third team of the year blazer - and second in a row - after earning selection in the 40-man squad this week.
The final 22 will be named on Thursday night from 6.30pm (AWST) during the AFL Awards broadcast by Fox Footy.
Naitanui is vying for a ruck spot against Melbourne giant Max Gawn and Fremantle’s Sean Darcy, and Yeo backed the high-flying Eagle to become a three-time All-Australian.
“He is the number one ranked player in the whole AFL (according to Official AFL Player Ratings) and by a long stretch,” Yeo told 96FM.
“I’m pretty lucky, I get to see some of his work pretty much right at his feet and he’s an absolute freak.
“His tap work, his follow up efforts, everything like that now has gone to another level and I would be extremely shocked if he’s not in the side this year.
“For me, and without being biased, I think he’s probably in there and one of the first few picked.”
Like Naitanui, Yeo, who is a two-time All-Australian from 2017 and ’19, has faced his share of adversity in recent times, coming back in the second half of the season from a debilitating osteitis pubis battle following almost 10 months on the sidelines.
The raging bull got better and better as he built his match fitness, finishing the season with a superb 30-disposal, six-tackle and five-clearance effort in the fighting round 23 loss to the Lions.
Speaking candidly, the dual club champion admitted he harboured some concerns whether he could return to his bullocking best.
“I’ve spoken to a lot of players as well that have had long-term injuries and they said that yeah you do (think about recurring injury), and at some point there I was doubting whether or not I was up to it and whether or not the game’s gone past (me),” Yeo said.
“But after a couple of games you pick it up pretty quick. It’s one of those ones where now I’d like to get a full pre-season under my belt – it would be the first one in a fair few years.
“Just glad that I was able to get that second half (of the season) in and just continue to build.
“Positive signs for me but I’m not that happy just yet, so got plenty to work on.”
Having notched 150 games for West Coast in the final round, Yeo is now eligible for life membership of the Eagles and was "extremely proud" to achieve the mark.
While it was another major checkpoint in his glittering career so far, the 2018 premiership star is far from satisfied and declared West Coast faced a big summer ahead after missing finals for the first time in six seasons.
“There’s a few players that will go under the knife and need a fair rest, so a lot of the off-season will revolve around players just getting better, and get fitter and get stronger,” Yeo said.
“It’s pretty basic, but that’s what pre-seasons are for. We need to probably tweak a few things as well with the gameplan, which ‘Simmo’ (coach Adam Simpson) has come out and said a fair bit.
“Having a fit list would certainly help as well.
“There’s plenty of things we need to work on going forward.”
