Simmo refuses to put a line through Nic Nat, Yeo in 2022
West Coast coach Adam Simpson refused to put Nic Naitanui and Elliot Yeo on the ice for the remainder of the season, as the injury-plagued pair pushed for a comeback in the remaining five rounds.
Naitanui is unlikely to face St Kilda on Sunday, with the Saints also set to be without their own star at Paddy Ryder, while Yeo will play Gold Coast in the round of 20, following a hamstring setback.
Naitanui and Yeo have amassed just five AFL games each for the year, with Naitanui succeeding last week after battling knee pain against Carlton in the previous round.
“We would have made a proper call for him (Naitanui) but we didn’t pack up and go home, there’s still five more rounds to go,” said Simpson.
“If these guys are available, specifically Nic and Elliot Yeo, I think it’s great for them to play.”
The club have ruled out Dom Sheed, Jeremy McGovern and Tom Joyce, while Oscar Allen, Luke Edwards, Campbell Chesser and Tom Cole remain on the inactive list.
Willie Rioli will miss another game, having been granted indefinite personal leave following his father’s death last week.
Simpson revealed the 2-15 Eagles will use the final round of the season to experiment with positional changes, warning senior players will not be immune to their moving magnets.
“Exploring people in different positions is something we have to look at, and not only for first-time players but also people who may need to look at something different with their careers as well,” said Simpson.
“The opportunity will come, maybe not this week, but maybe we will try some things over the next month that will look a little different in terms of positioning.”
Simpson admitted he intended to swing defender in the form of Tom Barrass to the other end of the ground but that plan had to be scrapped due to a season-ending rib injury to McGovern.
“I’d actually like to see Barrass go up there for a while and then Gov down,” he said.
“We actually started training him a bit for it and unfortunately we lost a few more soldiers.
“So our hands are tied a little bit but we’re going to try a few things.”
Barrass still looked a bit ginger in West Coast training on Thursday, while Tim Kelly relaxed after picking up a thigh injury against Hawthorn on Sunday.
Simpson said the star midfielder had “drawn well and should be fine” to face the Saints at Optus Stadium.
The Round of 19 clash looked a must-win for St Kilda, who just dropped out of eight following just one win from their last six.
“It’s going to be a game,” said Simpson. “I believe the Ratts (St Kilda coach Brett Ratten) have been disappointed at stages in the last five or six weeks and expectations are high, that they have put themselves in.
“Not that we can worry too much about what St Kilda is doing, we have our own goals and what we need to get out of our year, but our hope is that they will come along and have a real swing.”
Simpson admits it took a team effort to negate the influence of St Kilda forward Max King, who scored six goals the last time the two sides met in round 19, 2021, with the Eagles claiming an eight-point win.
“He’s a very good player. Our backs at this stage of the year have been left high and dry by our lack of support and pressure on the ground,” he said.
“The abundant supply is also detrimental to us. When we conceded 60/70 in the 50s it was really tough… If we can clear the supply, it will be the first priority in taking his chances.
“But he’s a very good player, so he doesn’t need too many chances to score.”
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