Latest news with #JohnWorsfoldMedal
Perth Now
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Eagles recall Kelly as midfield return looms against Tigers
Shortte's Mo this week? 👍or 😯 Tim Kelly looks set to get his wish and return to the midfield after being recalled for West Coast's clash against fellow battlers Richmond at Optus Stadium on Saturday night. As revealed by The West Australian last week, Kelly made the bold decision to drop himself back to the WAFL after being told he'd likely start as the sub against Port Adelaide that weekend. It came on the back of Kelly's desire to return to the midfield where he won the 2023 John Worsfold Medal, having been pushed out ahead of their last meeting with the Tigers in round nine. The 30-year-old responded with 27 disposals and two goals in the Eagles reserves defeat to West Perth on Saturday night to force his way back into the team against the Tigers. He has been named in the midfield on the official teamsheet submitted to the AFL on Thursday. Kelly had already been dropped earlier this year for the first time since joining West Coast in late 2019, while he also re-signed for another two seasons. Before training on Thursday, coach Andrew McQualter said Kelly could potentially move back into the midfield if he earned a recall. Sport. West Coast Eagles training at Mineral Resources Park in Lathlain. Tim Kelly. (front) Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Australian 'He played midfield in the game last week in the WAFL for the whole game. Tim's played a lot of footy as a midfielder, so he stepped back into it really comfortably,' he said. 'We're just going to have to pick our mix and get our balance right in the midfield. Losing Jack (Graham) out of that midfield, we lose 150 games of experience, and it wasn't easy to replace. 'It's an acknowledgement of things aren't going the way we both want at the moment so to help our team we need to get Tim back in form and that's part of what our discussion was, and he went back and played a strong game.' Kelly is joined by forward Liam Ryan who was a late out of the Eagles' side that lost to the Power, while speedster Jack Petruccelle has been named for his first game since round two against Brisbane. Third-year midfielder Elijah Hewett has been managed after playing the past 12 games to take his tally to 15 for the season, a promising sign after missing all last year with a serious foot injury. Jack Petrucellehas not played since round two. Credit: Michael Wilson / The West Australian Small forwards Noah Long – who was the tactical sub against the Power – and Malakai Champion have been dropped. McQualter said Ryan would be a valuable addition to their forward line. 'He's one of our best players in our team and our forward line in particular,' he said. 'Every time we've got him he helps us.' Petruccelle needs some solid showing given the 26-year-old Victorian is out of contract at the end of this season and has been overlooked in favour of younger players for much of the season. Richmond will go into the game unchanged after upsetting an injury hit Essendon at the MCG last weekend. WEST COAST V RICHMOND Saturday, Optus Stadium, 6.10pm EAGLES B: R Ginbey H Edwards L Duggan HB: T McCarthy R Bazzo T Cole C: J Cripps H Reid R Maric HF: L Baker J Shanahan L Ryan F: M Owies J Williams T Brockman FOLL: M Flynn B Hough T Kelly I/C: J Petrucelle C Hall B Williams T Dewar J Hutchinson EMG: J Hunt M Champion S Brock IN: L Ryan T Kelly J Petruccelle OUT: E Hewett (Managed) N Long (Omitted) M Champion (Omitted) TIGERS B: N Vlastuin B Miller N Broad HB: S Banks J Short T Brown C: K McIntosh D Prestia L Trainor HF: J Ross S Campbell M Rioli F: R Mansell J Faull J Koschitzke FOLL: T Nankervis T Taranto J Hopper I/C: T Young T Sonsie T Hotton T Sims J Trezise EMG: J Blight S Green K Smith
West Australian
01-07-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Dom Sheed says he found ‘sweet spot at exactly the right time' amid bowing out as West Coast Eagles hero
Former West Coast midfielder Dom Sheed has reflected on the 'crossroads' moment of his AFL career, a mid-season call up that led to his match-winning kick in the 2018 grand final victory over Collingwood. Sheed, who retired on Tuesday after 165 AFL games, on the back of a knee reconstruction and chronic foot pain, was in and out of West Coast's team throughout that historic 2018 season, unable to cement a regular spot. 'Eight weeks before finals, I was playing WAFL (with East Perth) and I remember it was hailing out at Bassendean Oval and I'm meant to be in the prime of my career,' Sheed, 30, told teammates, club officials, family and friends at his official retirement announcement at Mineral Resources Park. 'It was sort of crossroads for me. I was very lucky to get my opportunity to come back into the team, but more so proud that I made the most of that opportunity as well. 'I was able to play a role. But it was hard throughout that (year) and I felt like I found my sweet spot at exactly the right time.' Sheed returned to the team when teammate Andrew Gaff was handed a season-ending suspension in round 20, and went on to average 28.2 disposals in his final six games. He had a career-defining finals series, amassing 27 touches and a goal in the qualifying final against Collingwood, before backing up with another 27 disposals in a preliminary final win over Melbourne. He shared the player of the finals series with Jack Redden but will for ever be remembered for the grand final winning kick against Collingwood, with less than two minutes remaining, after they had reeled in a 29-point deficit early in the game. He had 1915 kicks in his AFL career, but that one against the Pies elevated him into the annals of grand final legend. Asked how many times he'd been asked about it, Sheed said: 'Heaps. (You) Put your hands on repeat a lot. I've put a little bit of mayo on it every single time. 'It wasn't until after we won the grand final, (you realise) how much joy and happiness you can bring other people. 'That was really special for me to be able to actually bring happiness to others, and that's what I'll leave the game, and I really hope that that's what I was able to do, is bring joy to others and be a good person.' Sheed followed up in 2019 with an averaged 26.5 disposals per game and kicked 16 goals, while in 2021 he led West Coast for disposals (579) and finished runner-up in the John Worsfold Medal behind Nic Naitanui. 'Dom will be forever remembered for that one great moment in the grand final, but to us internally he is much more than that,' Eagles football manager Gavin Bell said. 'He was an old-school footballer - tough, competitive, driven to improve and he cared deeply about his teammates. 'Dom made the most of his assets as a player. He had an incredibly high footy IQ, the ability to read and understand the game, and a deadly left foot. 'Reflecting on Dom's journey, it hasn't been easy for him. He's just stuck at it and played to his strengths. He's made the most out of his career.' Sheed's 2025 season was over before it began, cut down by a torn ACL in his right knee at a pre-season session in February. He will remain at the club to complete his knee rehabilitation as a mentor to the Eagles' next generation and continuing his knee rehabilitation. 'My body post ACL, I really wanted to get back to rehabbing that well and giving myself an opportunity of getting back,' he said yesterday. 'And I've been dealing with ... chronic foot pain, and I thought that I could possibly get through it, so I never wanted to close a window. 'But I don't think that now I'm going to be capable of playing and then, along with that, I'm looking at this playing group now, and you know that they're going to be fine. They're going to be good, they're going to be the ones to write the next chapter for the West Coast woody club. And that's probably where I knew it was my time.' A decorated junior footballer and cricketer from Kalgoorlie, Sheed won the Larke Medal as the best player in the 2013 under 18 national championships. He was drafted at pick 11 in 2013 and made his AFL debut in round one the following season, Adam Simpson's first game as coach for premiership points. He finished second in the 2021 John Worsfold Medal and was made a life member of the club in 2023. Sheed said he always 'tried to be consistent'. 'Whether that's on the footy field or off the footy field,' he said. He said that was his message to teammates before he fronted the media yesterday. 'I spoke to the boys and (told them) footy brings more lows and highs. And you know, if you can stay consistent as a person, that's always what I strived to be,' he said. 'I'm a pretty simple bloke. I want to be someone who trained hard and was a good bloke. So and I tried to keep it pretty simple and come in that way, and I left that way.' 'I would like to stay connected we in some way, shape or form. I'm not going to rule anything out, but I think I'll explore a couple of other ventures first. But I really want to stay connected to this club and this game, in some way. I don't think necessarily that will be coaching, but it might be in other areas.' He played only one game in 2022, 15 in 23 and eight in 24 before this year's setback. 'It's been difficult. I mean you want to play, and when the team's not going so well, all you want to do is be out there and help. And when the team's winning, all you want to do is be out there winning with them,' Sheed said. 'When you're in rehab, it's tough, it's difficult, but like I said, if you stay consistent as a person, then you get through it, and you can only do what you can do. 'The body has let me down but in saying that, I played 160 odd games, I've won a premiership, I'm a life member. I can't leave the game disappointed, I am one of the very, very lucky ones that get to leave the game that way.'
Perth Now
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Sheed: ‘I found my sweet spot at exactly the right time'
Former West Coast midfielder Dom Sheed has reflected on the 'crossroads' moment of his AFL career, a mid-season call up that led to his match-winning kick in the 2018 grand final victory over Collingwood. Sheed, who retired on Tuesday after 165 AFL games, on the back of a knee reconstruction and chronic foot pain, was in and out of West Coast's team throughout that historic 2018 season, unable to cement a regular spot. 'Eight weeks before finals, I was playing WAFL (with East Perth) and I remember it was hailing out at Bassendean Oval and I'm meant to be in the prime of my career,' Sheed, 30, told teammates, club officials, family and friends at his official retirement announcement at Mineral Resources Park. 'It was sort of crossroads for me. I was very lucky to get my opportunity to come back into the team, but more so proud that I made the most of that opportunity as well. 'I was able to play a role. But it was hard throughout that (year) and I felt like I found my sweet spot at exactly the right time.' Sheed returned to the team when teammate Andrew Gaff was handed a season-ending suspension in round 20, and went on to average 28.2 disposals in his final six games. He had a career-defining finals series, amassing 27 touches and a goal in the qualifying final against Collingwood, before backing up with another 27 disposals in a preliminary final win over Melbourne. He shared the player of the finals series with Jack Redden but will for ever be remembered for the grand final winning kick against Collingwood, with less than two minutes remaining, after they had reeled in a 29-point deficit early in the game. He had 1915 kicks in his AFL career, but that one against the Pies elevated him into the annals of grand final legend. Asked how many times he'd been asked about it, Sheed said: 'Heaps. (You) Put your hands on repeat a lot. I've put a little bit of mayo on it every single time. 'It wasn't until after we won the grand final, (you realise) how much joy and happiness you can bring other people. 'That was really special for me to be able to actually bring happiness to others, and that's what I'll leave the game, and I really hope that that's what I was able to do, is bring joy to others and be a good person.' Dom Sheed celebrates with Eagles fans in 2018. Credit: Daniel Wilkins / The Sunday Times Sheed followed up in 2019 with an averaged 26.5 disposals per game and kicked 16 goals, while in 2021 he led West Coast for disposals (579) and finished runner-up in the John Worsfold Medal behind Nic Naitanui. 'Dom will be forever remembered for that one great moment in the grand final, but to us internally he is much more than that,' Eagles football manager Gavin Bell said. 'He was an old-school footballer - tough, competitive, driven to improve and he cared deeply about his teammates. 'Dom made the most of his assets as a player. He had an incredibly high footy IQ, the ability to read and understand the game, and a deadly left foot. 'Reflecting on Dom's journey, it hasn't been easy for him. He's just stuck at it and played to his strengths. He's made the most out of his career.' Sheed's famous 2018 kick. Credit: Michael Willson / AFL Media Sheed's 2025 season was over before it began, cut down by a torn ACL in his right knee at a pre-season session in February. He will remain at the club to complete his knee rehabilitation as a mentor to the Eagles' next generation and continuing his knee rehabilitation. 'My body post ACL, I really wanted to get back to rehabbing that well and giving myself an opportunity of getting back,' he said yesterday. 'And I've been dealing with ... chronic foot pain, and I thought that I could possibly get through it, so I never wanted to close a window. 'But I don't think that now I'm going to be capable of playing and then, along with that, I'm looking at this playing group now, and you know that they're going to be fine. They're going to be good, they're going to be the ones to write the next chapter for the West Coast woody club. And that's probably where I knew it was my time.' A decorated junior footballer and cricketer from Kalgoorlie, Sheed won the Larke Medal as the best player in the 2013 under 18 national championships. Sheed with his Larke Medal in 2013. Credit: Lachlan Cunningham / AFL Media He was drafted at pick 11 in 2013 and made his AFL debut in round one the following season, Adam Simpson's first game as coach for premiership points. He finished second in the 2021 John Worsfold Medal and was made a life member of the club in 2023. Sheed said he always 'tried to be consistent'. 'Whether that's on the footy field or off the footy field,' he said. He said that was his message to teammates before he fronted the media yesterday. 'I spoke to the boys and (told them) footy brings more lows and highs. And you know, if you can stay consistent as a person, that's always what I strived to be,' he said. 'I'm a pretty simple bloke. I want to be someone who trained hard and was a good bloke. So and I tried to keep it pretty simple and come in that way, and I left that way.' Sheed with the trophy he helped secure. Credit: Andrew Ritchie / The West Australian 'I would like to stay connected we in some way, shape or form. I'm not going to rule anything out, but I think I'll explore a couple of other ventures first. But I really want to stay connected to this club and this game, in some way. I don't think necessarily that will be coaching, but it might be in other areas.' He played only one game in 2022, 15 in 23 and eight in 24 before this year's setback. 'It's been difficult. I mean you want to play, and when the team's not going so well, all you want to do is be out there and help. And when the team's winning, all you want to do is be out there winning with them,' Sheed said. 'When you're in rehab, it's tough, it's difficult, but like I said, if you stay consistent as a person, then you get through it, and you can only do what you can do. 'The body has let me down but in saying that, I played 160 odd games, I've won a premiership, I'm a life member. I can't leave the game disappointed, I am one of the very, very lucky ones that get to leave the game that way.'
West Australian
10-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Elliot Yeo says he's ‘starting to progress now' as he eyes comeback in final stretch of West Coast's season
Elliot Yeo says he's seeing signs of significant progress with his body as he eyes a return to the field as early as next month's western derby clash against Fremantle. After a superb 2024 campaign where he returned to full fitness off the back of several injury-interrupted seasons, Yeo hasn't featured at any level this year. The 31-year-old injured the medial ligament in his right knee and suffered syndesmosis damage to his right ankle in a match simulation session in January, and last month had to again go under the knife to remove some metal from his previous syndesmosis surgery. Yeo remains at least three weeks away from being passed fit, according to the Eagles' most recent injury update, and has had to bide his time on the sidelines alongside fellow members of the top three finishers in last year's John Worsfold Medal count in Jeremy McGovern (concussion) and Jake Waterman (shoulder). Speaking on Tuesday, the two-time All-Australian said he was confident he was heading in the right direction for a comeback to help steer West Coast's midfield through the final stretch of the season. 'I'm starting to progress now, which is a good sign,' Yeo said on 96FM. 'Hopefully the legs will just continue to build up over the next couple of weeks, and I'll tick a few more boxes. 'Hopefully I'll put my hand up for the last sort of month or so and go from there.' West Coast host Richmond in what shapes as a golden chance for both battling clubs to earn a win in just over a month's time on July 19, before starting the final month of their campaign in the following round's derby clash with the Dockers. Yeo produced arguably his best performance of last season in the Eagles' round six derby upset victory, snaring the Glendinning-Allan Medal and earning three Brownlow votes after racking up 26 touches and a goal. Since the start of 2020, Yeo has played in just 57 of a possible 120 West Coast games, coinciding with the club's dramatic tumble down the ladder. The dual club champion said it had been a frustrating experience to be watching on as the Eagles were overcome late in last weekend's loss to North Melbourne in Bunbury. 'We dominated the game for three quarters,' Yeo said. 'We weren't able to capitalise, and hit the scoreboard with points and not goals. 'I probably gave us the 'mozz', too. I was watching and said to the missus, 'the floodgates have opened, we're going to roll away with this now'. And then halfway through the fourth (quarter), I was like, 'oh no, we're going to lose this'.'
Perth Now
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
‘Starting to progress now': Return finally in sight for Yeo
Elliot Yeo says he's seeing signs of significant progress with his body as he eyes a return to the field as early as next month's western derby clash against Fremantle. After a superb 2024 campaign where he returned to full fitness off the back of several injury-interrupted seasons, Yeo hasn't featured at any level this year. The 31-year-old injured the medial ligament in his right knee and suffered syndesmosis damage to his right ankle in a match simulation session in January, and last month had to again go under the knife to remove some metal from his previous syndesmosis surgery. Yeo remains at least three weeks away from being passed fit, according to the Eagles' most recent injury update, and has had to bide his time on the sidelines alongside fellow members of the top three finishers in last year's John Worsfold Medal count in Jeremy McGovern (concussion) and Jake Waterman (shoulder). Speaking on Tuesday, the two-time All-Australian said he was confident he was heading in the right direction for a comeback to help steer West Coast's midfield through the final stretch of the season. 'I'm starting to progress now, which is a good sign,' Yeo said on 96FM. 'Hopefully the legs will just continue to build up over the next couple of weeks, and I'll tick a few more boxes. 'Hopefully I'll put my hand up for the last sort of month or so and go from there.' West Coast host Richmond in what shapes as a golden chance for both battling clubs to earn a win in just over a month's time on July 19, before starting the final month of their campaign in the following round's derby clash with the Dockers. Yeo produced arguably his best performance of last season in the Eagles' round six derby upset victory, snaring the Glendinning-Allan Medal and earning three Brownlow votes after racking up 26 touches and a goal. Yeo after last year's derby win. Credit: Daniel Carson / AFL Photos Since the start of 2020, Yeo has played in just 57 of a possible 120 West Coast games, coinciding with the club's dramatic tumble down the ladder. The dual club champion said it had been a frustrating experience to be watching on as the Eagles were overcome late in last weekend's loss to North Melbourne in Bunbury. 'We dominated the game for three quarters,' Yeo said. 'We weren't able to capitalise, and hit the scoreboard with points and not goals. 'I probably gave us the 'mozz', too. I was watching and said to the missus, 'the floodgates have opened, we're going to roll away with this now'. And then halfway through the fourth (quarter), I was like, 'oh no, we're going to lose this'.'
