West Coast celebrity Nic Naitanui believes a match and wholesome Elliot Yeo is a “fairly scary factor” after his dominant intra-club show at Mineral Assets Park on Friday.
The 2-time John Worsfold medallist and twin All-Australian seems again to his greatest after a irritating couple of seasons, restricted to simply 17 video games, together with simply 5 final yr, due to accidents.
Yeo was labeled out of form by analyst Kane Cornes amid his soft-tissue struggles, however Naitanui insists he would not have some extent to show.
“Yeoy is knowledgeable, he is all the time executed what he is wanted to do,” Naitanui mentioned.
“He is been a man who’s had little niggles and interruptions alongside the best way. He is received our greatest and fairest twice and is an elite midfielder and backman as nicely. I do not suppose he has some extent to show, I feel for Yeoy it is extra about going on the market and exhibiting everybody what he does greatest.”
Yeo regarded in wonderful bodily situation as he tore it up on Friday night time in a best-afield efficiency, enjoying a mixture of half-back and inside midfield.
“He is actually match and wholesome,” Naitanui mentioned.
“A match and wholesome Yeoy is a fairly scary factor. Having him at half-back and operating by way of the center, he had a good few clearances final night time and simply dominated so I am excited to have him operating round once more.”
Naitanui mentioned his personal physique is feeling good after getting by way of a half of the intra-club as he seems to construct in the direction of spherical one.
The 32-year-old was restricted to simply eight appearances final season due to a left knee harm which required surgical procedure.
He plans to maintain growing his match minutes forward of the season opener towards North Melbourne at Marvel Stadium on March 18, however did not know which of the pre-season video games towards Port Adelaide (at Mineral Assets Park on Friday) and Adelaide (at Mineral Assets Park on March 2) he would play in.
“I feel simply constructing the minutes,” Naitanui mentioned of his plans for the following fortnight.
“We have not actually gone by way of that but, we’ll in all probability simply assessment what occurred final night time and I feel nearly all of the boys have put their palms as much as get minutes over the following two weeks.
“I have been constructing during the last three or 4 Fridays and there have been in all probability half a dozen guys who had been managed and went inside and did a bit extra work indoors.
“I feel everybody obtained by way of unscathed which is a constructive signal for the following two video games towards Adelaide and Port Adelaide.”
Naitanui was uncertain if Bailey Williams or Callum Jamieson would be part of him within the facet for spherical one, hinting that each could also be required due to the tall-forward injury-list which incorporates Jack Darling (ankle), Oscar Allen (hamstring tightness), Jack Williams (inner accidents) and the retirement of all-time main goal-kicker Josh Kennedy.
“We would want each, a number of of our talls are injured in the meanwhile up ahead,” Naitanui mentioned. “Each boys are having actually good pre-seasons and whoever it’s, I am positive they’re going to fill the function very well.”
A bulked-up Jamieson, who has been a serious beneficiary of recent strength-and-conditioning coach Mark “Killer” Kilgallon’s arrival over the pre-season, was Naitanui’s essential opponent on Friday as he seems so as to add to his identify appearances final season. Naitanui mentioned the Claremont product performed a bit like prized Fremantle recruit Luke Jackson, who shared the ruck with Jamieson throughout WA’s under-18s carnival in 2019.
“We have the brand new weights coach, the Irishman, ‘Killer’ we name him, in there that is actually obtained behind him and dealing his program,” Naitanui mentioned.
“I’ve loved working alongside him this pre-season and excited to see what he can produce this yr as nicely.
“He performs a bit like a Luke Jackson so I actually stay up for seeing what he is going to do that yr, but additionally the years to come back as nicely.”
The Eagles are anticipated to welcome a number of huge names throughout the following two pre-season video games. Premiership hero Dom Sheed didn’t play within the intra-club due to his brother’s wedding ceremony, younger tall Oscar Allen had hamstring tightness and captain Luke Shuey was rested.
Key ahead Jack Darling, who’s contact and go for spherical one resulting from a latest ankle harm, was noticed on the Eagles followers day on Saturday morning out of the moon boot however nonetheless limping noticeably.
The membership’s high choose from 2021, explosive midfielder Campbell Chesser, must also enhance his minutes after an thrilling first-half exhibiting on Friday earlier than getting rested.
Chesser’s debut season ended earlier than he had time to take off after a severe ankle harm in the course of the first quarter of West Coast’s scratch match towards Fremantle.
“He is actually good,” Naitanui mentioned.
“To see glimpses of him final night time, he was on fireplace. I feel they … took him off at half-time as nicely so I anticipate to see him play much more.”
