West Coast coach Adam Simpson is confident Elliot Yeo will be fit to go next week, but says it would have been too much of a risk to play the midfield bull in Sunday's match against Melbourne at Optus Stadium.
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Yeo tweaked his groin a fortnight ago against Essendon, forcing him to miss last week's 66-point loss to Collingwood.
Although the injury was only minor, West Coast decided against risking the 30-year-old this week given his long history of setbacks.
"He was close," Simpson said on Friday.
"He trained - not fully though. He got through training and just didn't feel confident.
"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 expects Yeo to train fully next week and return against the Crows in Adelaide.
West Coast received a dose of good news when star defender Jeremy McGovern was given the green light to face Melbourne.
McGovern went to hospital for precautionary scans after a heavy fall against the Pies, but the results were positive.
"He just got a knock around his organs," Simpson said.
"He's had it before actually, he's pretty brave.
"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."
West Coast have recalled Jamaine Jones, most likely for a role in the forward line.
In-form spearhead Jake Waterman returns from concussion.
Simpson said he would persist with Liam Ryan in attack, despite the premiership forward kicking just two goals from three games since returning from hamstring surgery.
Ryan impressed across half-back in two WAFL games this year, and Simpson said a role in defence was a plan B for the 27-year-old.
"It's funny, two years ago, if you had have said, 'Are you going to play Liam Ryan down back?', I would have thought, 'No way'," Simpson said.
"I think it's a good plan B for us and we'll definitely do it at some stage. But he's an All-Australian forward.
"He's just been out for so long, so that confidence and getting used to the rhythm of the game, it's just taking time. Hopefully clicks this week."
Australian Associated Press
