West Coast Eagles star Elliot Yeo set to play as mystery remains around Hawthorn tagger Finn Maginness

West Coast are backing star Elliot Yeo to take on Hawthorn despite the death of his father earlier in the week after naming all their emergencies to play in the WAFL.

It comes as mystery surrounds the make-up of Sam Mitchell’s side, with tagger Finn Maginness not included in the team but travelling as the emergency after not being named for Box Hill in the VFL.

The Eagles named Yeo in the side for the clash at Optus Stadium on Sunday but were giving him plenty of time to decide if he was up for taking to the field after the passing of his father Craig on Monday night.

While a decision could still be made on the morning of the game, the Eagles have named all three of their emergencies in Andrew Gaff, Harry Edwards and Jack Hutchinson in the WAFL among 16 AFL-listed players to take on Swan Districts earlier in the day.

Gaff was picked as the back up for Yeo, having been dropped for second time this season after their shock nine-point loss to the previously winless North Melbourne before the bye.

Bringing in the veteran wingman wouldn’t upset the balance of the Eagles’ side too much though given the return of No.1 draftee Harley Reid and Tim Kelly from suspension and injury respectively.

The Eagles also ran premiership forward Liam Ryan through the midfield, with the All-Australian collecting a career-high 19 touches and six clearances and showcasing pace out the front of the stoppage.

West Coast coach Adam Simpson said Yeo had the flexibility to decide if he was up to playing.

“We’ve really trying to respect the decision he’s going through which is tragic,” Simpson said.

“He popped in the club yesterday for the morning, he’s here today (Friday), we’ll see how he goes through the Captain’s Run, and we’ll give him up to the last minute before the game before preparing to play.

“If he feels like he’s not up for it then he won’t. It’s totally up to Elliot, how he’s feeling and what he has to deal with, with his family.”

Eagles fans are excited by the return of Reid after a two-game suspension either side of the bye, but could be set for some extra attention once again if Maginness is a late inclusion.

Simpson indicated a way for Reid to beat the tag was for him to play forward more.

“They’re a pretty dangerous midfield themselves. They’re like No.1 in a lot of stats around the stoppages so I think they’ll back in their system,” he said.

“If they give him attention it’s something he can learn from like last time he played.

“It’s not the first time it’s happened to him and we’ve got to try to find ways to get him into the game. With his flexibility about going forward as well we can explore that.

“It (being tagged) will happen again, no doubt especially if he catches fire like he does sometimes.”