The West Coast Eagles are wrapping their arms around gun midfielder Elliot Yeo after his father, Craig, died on Monday night.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the club sent “heartfelt condolences” to Yeo and his family.
“The club will provide support to Elliot during this difficult time and requests that his family’s privacy is respected,” the Eagles said.
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It has been reported that Craig Yeo died after battling an illness.
Yeo, who last week signed a three-year deal to remain at the Eagles, was absent from the club’s training session on Monday.
He played in the Eagles’ defeat against Essendon at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon. West Coast players returned to Perth on Sunday night.
Craig Yeo received a posthumous award recognising his contribution to the hospitality industry at Monday night’s Australian Hotels Associations awards at Crown Towers.
His son, Corey Yeo, who is also a former player, accepted the award on his father’s behalf, just hours after Craig passed away.
The Yeo family run the Broken Hill Hotel in Victoria Park.
Elliot Yeo announced last month he and fiancée Tess Goodbody are expecting their first child.
The pair became engaged last year.
The Eagles face Hawthorn at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
– With The West Australian