Sheed squeezed out as Eagles bring back Shuey

WEST Coast coach Adam Simpson insists Dom Sheed’s surprise axing isn’t a punishment, saying the midfielder is unlucky to be squeezed out of the side.

Sheed was dropped for tonight’s clash with St Kilda to accommodate the return of Luke Shuey, who has recovered from a hamstring injury.

Simpson said Sheed hadn’t done a lot wrong, but had been “a bit scratchy” of late and would benefit from a game in the WAFL.

Sheed, who has averaged 22 possessions and five clearances a game this season, will line up for East Perth on Monday.

“Luke Shuey’s an A-grade talent so when he comes back into the side someone has to go out,” Simpson said. “Dom’s been back for a couple of weeks and he’s been a little bit scratchy in some areas, without going into specifics. It’s not a punishment, he just got squeezed out.

“It’s not the end of the world. We think he’s right in there in our best side, but at the moment he’s not.”

The Eagles will start as strong favourites at home against St Kilda, who haven’t tasted victory since Round 1.

But Simpson isn’t worried about the prospect of his players getting complacent.

“Complacency? I don’t think we’ve achieved anything that gives us the right to be complacent,” he said.

“We’ve had a good run, we’ve won some games, which is great for our goal but we haven’t accomplished anything yet. I think the maturity of the players — win, lose or draw — they’ll play with the right attitude.

“(St Kilda) touched us up last year and beat us by 30 in contested ball in the last quarter. We just got outhunted and outworked. We know what their best looks like.”