Elliot Yeo Biography

Elliot Yeo signs a contract extension to remain with the Eagles for another three years.

"I feel like I'm part of the walls here now and to be able to finish an Eagle, it's a wonderful feeling," he said.

Elliot Yeo will notch his 200-game milestone against Essendon in round eight, and he'll do so while being in some of the best form of his career.

Three-and-a-half years of injury setbacks left experts and fans wondering whether Yeo could ever get back to his best.

But the 30-year-old is finally injury-free and in the form of his life, averaging a career-high 8.1 clearances and 25.1 possessions across his first seven games of 2024.

Elliot Yeo is set for his third stint on the sidelines in 2023 after scans revealed a hip issue that will keep him out for up to a month.

Noah Answerth is set to play his first senior game in 18 months after recovering from groin injuries and says a long chat with Elliot Yeo, who suffered similar injuries, helped him navigate the most difficult period of his young football career.

"He took a good half an hour to 45 minutes to talk to me. He went through what he did to get back. He was probably the reason why the change happened for me, and for my career it's probably the best conversation I've had," Answerth said of his talk with Yeo.

"I always had this thought of getting back to play one game would be an achievement. To tick that off and that'll be an achievement for me personally. Hopefully, I can create a new career from there."

Elliot Yeo describes his past two seasons as an emotional and physical rollercoaster, dealing with the uncertainty and false dawns of the dreaded osteitis pubis.

"It's not like a usual injury where they can put a time on it and it's a label and you know what you need to build to. It was literally 'go until you feel better', which is hard, and that took me a fair bit of time to get my head around," Yeo explained.

"I'd done a lot of work and I was within reach, but I did four laps and just had to walk off the track. It was just too sore for me to go on. Sometimes dealing with those frustrations was quite hard and a lot of people were in the crossfire as well. It wasn't great, but I feel like I learnt a fair bit from it."

Elliot Yeo is learning to manage his frustrations as he recovers from osteitis pubis, admitting that he does, at times, take it out on the club's medical staff while his game time is being managed.

"There's times there where I'm sitting on the bench for a long period of time and it does get frustrating. Even though the strength and conditioning staff might cop a few words here and there, I understand they're doing it for the right reasons," Yeo said.

"I'm quite impatient sometimes and not one to sit still too much. I just have to manage those frustrations as much as I can on the bench."

Elliot Yeo resumes a modified training program after another period of rest to recover from the dreaded osteitis pubis injury that cut his 2020 season short.

Elliot Yeo and Jack Darling have been elevated into the Eagles' leadership group under new captain Luke Shuey.

"They're both wonderful footballers, but sometimes it takes a little bit more time, we all develop at different rates in terms of leadership," Eagles manager Craig Vozzo said.

"Jack is a quieter, one-on-one type mentor. He has a terrific knowledge of the game and is able to pass that on one-on-one through our forward line.

"Elliot has developed into one of our best players and one of the better players in the game, and is still forming his way of leadership and it's going really well."

The group has expanded from six to seven in 2020, with former captain Shannon Hurn stepping away from an official leadership role.

Shuey will be supported by vice-captains Josh Kennedy and Jeremy McGovern, with ruckman Nic Naitanui and midfielder Andrew Gaff rounding out the group.

Luke Shuey has joined elite West Coast company and denied two-time reigning club champion Elliot Yeo's shot at history after being crowned the John Worsfold medallist for a second time.

A superb finish to the season ensured Shuey (258 votes) took the honours, ahead of midfield counterpart Yeo (239) and backman Brad Sheppard (234).

Shuey told a packed room he has never enjoyed his football and family life away from the game more.

"Obviously having a love outside of football has taken my mind off it during the week and come gameday you realise you haven't thought about footy for a few days and you're completely revved up and ready to go," Shuey said.

"Knowing we're a good football club and we've got some amazing people here, I get to rock up to work with 43 of the most amazing teammates I could ever imagine."

Elliot Yeo says he is learning to deal with increasing attention from opposition taggers.

Yeo has been a catalyst for West Coast's resurgence from a 3-3 start to a 12-5 win-loss record, ranking as the League's second-best onballer since that shaky opening to its flag defence, according to the Official AFL Player Ratings.

"(Being tagged) is something I'm learning through and trying to get through," he said.

"Having 'VB' (midfield coach Nathan van Berlo) as well, who was a tagger, certainly helps and you learn a fair bit off 'Hutchy' as well.

"It's just small things like that where you can learn and it helps you grow as a player."

Elliot Yeo claims his second John Worsfold Medal as the Eagles' best and fairest for the 2018 season.

Following a stunning transformation from All Australian half-back to elite midfielder this season, Yeo (273 votes) was a clear winner from ex-Brisbane teammate Jack Redden (231) and captain Shannon Hurn (222).

"It's a truly honourable experience to be able to win a second club champ," Yeo said.

"It's been a pretty good week, to be honest. It was my birthday on Monday, we won a flag on Saturday and I was able to be crowned today as well."

Elliot Yeo admits his performance in the 2015 Grand Final was one of the worst in his career and is looking forward to redemption this year.

"I'm not shy to say that it was probably one of my worst performances as a footballer and to play one of your worst games of your career, you don’t really want it on the big stage, and for me that was pretty heartbreaking," Yeo said.

"I took that as motivation going forward and thought you can't get any worse than that, so that helped me build as a footballer."

Elliot Yeo signs a five-year contract extension with West Coast to remain at the club until the end of 2023.

"It’s a great feeling to have the contract settled at this early stage so I can concentrate on the pre-season and preparing for 2018," Yeo said.

"When I came to the club four years ago it was about being around my family and that has definitely helped me both on- and off-field.

"I have really enjoyed being home and the club has been great for me."

Elliot Yeo wins the John Worsfold medal as West Coast's best and fairest for the 2017 season.

Yeo polled 197 votes to edge out Jeremy McGovern by six, with Luke Shuey (180) rounding out the top three.

"At the end of 2016 I had a fair few things that I wanted to work on. It was a disappointing year for myself," Yeo said.

"It (form turnaround) definitely came from a lot of hard work, but it also came from having a mentor such as 'Hick' (assistant coach Adrian Hickmott), he's been absolutely phenomenal for myself this year.

"He's one of those coaches who keeps you accountable but also pushes you to the limits he thinks you're capable of."

West Coast club champion Elliot Yeo could be in for a lucrative payday when he signs his next contract, but the bullocking Eagle is in no rush to extend his current deal beyond 2018.

"It's not until the end of next year (that his contract expires), so we're probably a year away from talks like that," Yeo said.

"But it hasn't really crossed my mind. You're probably looking a little bit too far into it there, but we'll wait and see."

Visualising what his best football looks like has helped Elliot Yeo's form as he sits outright second in the AFL Coaches Association champion player award so far in 2017.

"I like to have a look at the iPad the day before a game and re-hash (that)," Yeo said.

"But also visualising myself and how I would like to play (has been beneficial). Visualising what I do best and just backing myself in.

"It's something new that I've done. It's certainly helped, that's for sure."

Having settled at half-back with stints pinch-hitting in midfield, Elliot Yeo has re-established himself as one of the AFL's brightest prospects.

Yeo has shot into Brownlow Medal discussions and is averaging 25 disposals and nearly 10 marks per game so far in 2017.

"He's been in our top performers every single game and I think he's just playing at the level everyone knows he can play at," Eagles teammate Matt Priddis said of Yeo.

"He's a super athlete, he can play at both ends of the ground, and at the moment he's really clear on what he wants to achieve.

"His preparation has been really consistent and he's playing with real flair and confidence."

Brad Sheppard says West Coast teammate Elliot Yeo's switch to defence could be the masterstroke that unlocks his potential.

"He's only 23, so he's still got a lot of upside to his football," Sheppard said.

"He'll find the more games he plays at the elite level the more he understands certain game scenarios.

"He's got all the attributes to become one of the best players in the game. By him being down back he can really settle into a role."

Brisbane captain Tom Rockliff says the Lions failed as a club when they let five first-round draft picks go at the end of 2013.

Jared Polec (Port Adelaide), Elliot Yeo (West Coast), Patrick Karnezis (Collingwood), Billy Longer (St Kilda) and Sam Docherty (Carlton) all asked to leave the club and were traded following the 2013 season.

"Obviously we lost a lot of high draft picks, which is probably our own fault looking back," Rockliff said.

"They all left for different reasons, but if you're a good organisation, a good club, you keep players like that."

Elliot Yeo signs a new three-year contract with West Coast.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a career-best year, playing every game bar one and averaging 19 disposals in a variety of roles.

"We are building an exciting young list and Elliot is an important component in that," Eagles general manager Craig Vozzo said.

"Whatever happens with our club over the closing stages of the 2015 season, we are aiming to build towards a period of sustained success and Elliot, with the attributes he has, should be a pivotal player in that plan."

Callum Sinclair and Elliot Yeo made successful returns to training on Monday following significant hand injuries.

Both players participated fully in the lengthy match simulation session at Patersons Stadium.

West Coast adds Elliot Yeo to its lengthy medical list after the utility suffered a setback with his broken hand at training last week.

Yeo underwent a fresh bout of surgery on Wednesday on the hand he broke during the Eagles' round 13 clash against Gold Coast.

Elliot Yeo has his teeth were broken in a collision with Collingwood ruckman Jarrod Witts in the Eagles' eight-point loss to the Magpies at the MCG.

Yeo dropped a simple mark inside West Coast's forward 50m on the stroke of half-time and copped a double-blow from Witts' a split-second later.

Trainers searched for Yeo's teeth during the half-time break, but luckily the roots remained in his mouth and can be capped.

Yeo soldiered on after half-time and earned Eagles coach Adam Simpson's respect.

"It was a big knock…he should have taken the mark. He kept on going, I don't know if he was in a hell of a lot of pain or not, but he didn't seem to take a backward step after it," Simpson said.

Elliot Yeo officially moves to West Coast after the Brisbane Lions traded him to the Eagles in exchange for pick No.28 in the 2013 NAB AFL Draft.

Elliot Yeo is set to return home to Western Australia after being offered a three-year deal by West Coast.

Yeo's manager Colin Young confirmed the Eagles' interest in Yeo and was hopeful the deal would be formalised when the Gillette AFL Trade period begins on Monday.

"Everyone's quietly confident before Monday starts but things change rapidly come Monday morning," Young told AFL.com.au's Gillette Trade Radio.

"I think Brisbane still want to have one more chat to Elliot before he makes his final decision.

"I'll catch up with Elliot on Monday morning back in Perth and I'm hopeful the deal will get done quickly."

Elliot Yeo joins a growing list of Lions wanting to leave the club with the youngster requesting a trade back to his home state of Western Australia.

"Despite Elliot Yeo expressing his desire to head home to Western Australia, we regard him as a required player at the Brisbane Lions," Lions national talent manager Rob Kerr said.

"We value Elliot highly as both a player and a person, and as such, we will be focused on retaining his services."

Elliot Yeo makes his AFL debut for Brisbane at Docklands Stadium with 16 disposals (7 kicks and 9 handballs), 3 marks and a tackle in a 16-point loss to North Melbourne.

Lions talent manager Rob Kerr believes draftee Elliot Yeo could develop into a player similar to Freo's Nat Fyfe.

"With a couple of years in the system he could develop into a good wing, half-forward [or] half-back - a bit [Nathan] Fyfe-like we think," Kerr said.

"[Recruiting manager] Graham Hadley identified him early and brought him to our attention. He looks young and is still developing."