West Coast star Nic Naitanui knows better than most what a healthy Elliot Yeo can do, and says the bullocking Eagle is looking “pretty scary” after a dominant intraclub performance on Friday night.
Switching between half-back and midfield, Yeo lit up Mineral Resources Park with his contested work, shrugging off opponents as he went, in a clear sign the dual Club Champion is getting back to his best.
Yeo has managed just 27 games since 2019 due to a combination of debilitating osteitis pubis and soft-tissue issues but, like a host of key Eagles, he has been able to put injury behind him this pre-season.
“He’s really fit and healthy and a fit and healthy Yeoy is a pretty scary thing,” Naitanui said at the Eagles’ Fan Day on Saturday morning.
“Having him at half-back and running through the middle, he had a fair few clearances last night and just dominated so I’m excited to have Yeoy running around again.”
Naitanui, who was typically influential in the first half before being managed as part of his build to round one, has also been impressed with the emerging generation of Eagles.
Last year’s top draft pick Reuben Ginbey and Elijah Hewett have shown promise in midfield, while crafty small forward Noah Long has shot into calculations for an early debut.
Pleasingly, talented mid Campbell Chesser’s performance was a highlight on Friday night, with the 2021 first-round pick impressing on a wing in the opening half as he builds back from a long-term ankle injury.
“Chess is really good. There was a handful of guys who hurt themselves this time last year and Chess was one of the unlucky few,” Naitanui said.
“To see glimpses of him last night he was on fire. I expect to see him play a lot more minutes the next few weeks.
“Reubs is an exciting young talent. Him and Elijah Hewett and a few of the younger boys are just showcasing what they can do. Reubs had another good night last night, as he did last Friday. I’m looking forward to those guys playing the next few practice matches and if they do what they did the last few weeks, they will definitely be in there round one, I hope.
“Longy is really good. He’s got the skills, but he’s got the smarts of a Mark LeCras type. He’s got that hunger to keep it int here and trap it in there when we don’t have the footy, but he also hits the scoreboard too.”
The Eagles will face Port Adelaide at Mineral Resources Park on Friday night as preparations step up a gear, and the battle to play as Naitanui’s ruck sidekick is set to continue between Bailey Williams and Callum Jamieson.
“Both boys are having really good pre-seasons. Whoever it is I’m sure they will fill the role really well,” Naitanui said.
“(Jamieson) has always been a really good player and played a whole different amount of roles, which has probably helped his footy as well.
“I’ve enjoyed working alongside him this pre-season and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can produce this year as well.
“Those boys are very agile. (Jamieson) plays a bit like a Luke Jackson, so I look forward to what he’s going to do over this year and the years to come as well.”
