West Coast Eagles veteran Elliot Yeo backs Harley Reid to fire early despite injury-interrupted pre-season

West Coast veteran Elliot Yeo has backed Harley Reid to be fit and firing come round one despite an injury-interrupted pre-season that has seen the second-year midfielder on a mostly-reduced training load. Reid, 19, has battled lower leg soreness since the Eagles returned from their off-season in November and also spent time in concussion protocols following a training collision. His physical condition following time at home in Victoria also raised eyebrows. But Yeo, who mentored the teenager through his first AFL season, is confident the young gun is building towards a return to full fitness. “He’s been struggling a little bit with some injuries,” Yeo said of Reid. “His load will continue to grow and build, I’m sure he will come back ready to rock and roll and come round one he’ll be ready.” Now in his 14th pre-season, Yeo said his own body was in pretty good shape and he felt energised by the sweeping changes at the club, including Andrew McQualter taking over as coach. Yeo travelled to Qatar for specialist medical treatment last season in an effort to end a horror run of soft tissue injuries and said while he was unable to repeat the trip this off-season, what he had learned had held him in good stead. “As you get older you know your limits,” he said. “I feel like I’ve gathered that over the last few years with where I’ve been and I’ve learnt a few things from Qatar as well. “I was thinking about going (again) but (having a new) baby held me back on that. At some stage I’d like to get over there but I reckon it would probably be towards the end of this year. “The majority of the players that have been have got a fair bit out of it. Hopefully, I can stay out there and play as much football as I can, anything to help the next generation. “There’s a lot of excitement going around, there is a different vibe around the football club and it’s a lot of fun. “Different voices, different game plan, different styles, different terminology, different methods but at the end of the day football is a basic game — see the ball and get the ball. The terminology just changes a bit.” Yeo said he had also spoken with young teammate Reuben Ginbey who was charged by police after urinating in public and then failing to provide his details to officers at a music festival on Saturday. “We are happy to support him as players,” Yeo said. “Obviously he’s made a mistake but we will move on from it.” West Coast will return to training from their Christmas break on Thursday.