AFL Injury News: West Coast star ruled out of Sunday’s Sir Doug Nicholls clash with Melbourne Demons, key defender given green light 

Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) will be without star player Elliot Yeo during Sunday's Sir Doug Nichols clash against Melbourne this Sunday. The 30-year-old was also unavailable in the team's 66-point loss to Collingwood last week.

Yeo suffered a groin strain in the final quarter of West Coast’s round-eight match against Essendon. The Eagles decided not to risk him against Collingwood, even though the injury was minor.

During his pre-match press conference on Friday, coach Adam Simpson said Yeo would not play on Sunday because the team is not willing to risk aggravating the injury.

"He was close, He trained - not fully though. He got through training and just didn't feel confident," Simpson revealed. "It was a 50-50 call, but just his history ... and quite often we go off what Yeo is feeling. So we're going to give him another week.'

Simpson also confirmed that defender Jeremy McGovern was fit to play. The defender's precautionary scans after his fall against the 'Pies are positive, and he has been cleared.

"He just got a knock around his organs, he's had it before actually, he's pretty brave," Simpson said. So, we just had to make sure that all settled really well, and it was more precautionary than anything, the hospital visit."

"As much as he wanted to keep playing against Collingwood, it was just too much of a risk last weekend. But he pulled up really well and was pain-free pretty much on the plane," he added.

The Eagles will have speedster Jamaine Jones and forward Jake Waterman, who completed concussion protocols, back from injury. However, Jack Petruccelle remains out with an ankle injury, and first-year wingman Harvey Johnston is still omitted from the squad list.

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Simpson insists Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) must play their own way

Eagles players look dejected after a loss during the 2024 AFL round nine match between the Collingwood Magpies and the West Coast Eagles

West Coast face Melbourne in the Sir Doug Nichols round this Sunday, and Adam Simpson knows it is going to be a difficult match.

"You can’t cover everyone. That’s what you learn when you play Narrm. There’s too many great players, so we will play our way as best we can, compete as hard as we can, and you never know," he said.

West Coast have lost their last three games and are 16th on the table with only two wins this season. Meanwhile, Melbourne are in the top half of the table at fourth place with 24 points.