Midfield duo Elliot Yeo and Dom Sheed are set to take the next steps in their builds towards AFL comebacks when they pull on WAFL Eagles guernseys against East Perth on Saturday.
The premiership stars have been sorely missed in a team decimated by injuries in 2022 but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Yeo has been luckless since going down with osteitis pubis in the 2020 campaign, and had to deal with concussion and Health and Safety Protocols recently, but is set to play limited minutes at Leederville Oval.
“That’s what the plan is. Very limited minutes but it’s the start of their pre-seasons, really,” coach Adam Simpson said.
“Yeo has played one-and-a-half games of AFL this year, and one game of WAFL, so he’s got to really build that (fitness) base back up, so he’ll start that progression tomorrow."
Meanwhile, Sheed will take the next step in his recovery from a nasty ankle injury suffered in the pre-season practice match against Fremantle in late February.
“Dom’s probably slightly ahead of schedule, which is great for him. He’s worked really hard for it," Simpson said.
“We’ll see how long it takes before they’re available for AFL but it’s a good step forward.”
Looking to Saturday night, the Eagles have been buoyed by champion forward Josh Kennedy’s return from knee soreness for a tough clash with last year’s beaten Grand Finalists the Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium.
Skipper Luke Shuey will also take his place after being subbed out of last round’s loss to Greater Western Sydney with back tightness.
“He trained early in the week and he’s right to go,” Simpson said.
“I think there’s still a lot of football left in Luke. He’s doing everything he can to get a routine that makes him available consistently.
“Hopefully he can finish off the year and onward we go, because he’s definitely got the motivation and fitness.
“It’s just getting that body consistently available for us.”
Simpson warned the Bulldogs were “back to their best” after a slow start to the season, with Luke Beveridge’s men winning three of their past four games.
“Their strength is across their midfield. Their run, ability to defend the ground is really sharp and you can’t get the ball off them,” Simpson said.
“We’re preparing for them at their best and they’re not far off.
“I know they’re missing a couple of players, but they’re in pretty good nick at the moment.”
While the Eagles are focused on little wins as they gradually build from a shocking run of injuries and COVID absences, there have also been success stories off the field recently with top draftee Campbell Chesser and important defender Tom Cole both re-signing until the end of 2025.
Both shape as key pieces of the puzzle as West Coast repositions its list towards challenging at the top end of the ladder again.
“That’s the goal for us, isn’t it? We started at the draft last year and all the talent we drafted last year, most of them have had a little sniff this year, which is a bonus,” Simpson said.
“Then we’ve got our younger players coming through like Cole. Even (Liam) Duggan, he’s still a young enough player for us, and with Oscar Allen, those type of players.
“We still think there’s a pretty good nucleus there for a good side in the future, but we’ve got to complement it with some more talent.
“That’s our goal the next year or two until we feel like we’re in a good space.
“We’re getting really exposed at the moment – our whole list – so we’re getting a really good look at the players available, and we’ll get a clear indication of what needs to happen at the end of the year.”
