Former St Kilda coach Scott Watters has revealed he almost recruited dual West Coast best and fairest winner Elliot Yeo, only for him to be shut down by the club’s recruiters.

Yeo, who was described as the best player in the competition by Melbourne great Garry Lyon on Monday, is having a stellar season as a driving force in the Eagles’ midfield.

The 2017 All Australian is averaging 23 possessions (13 contested), six clearances, five inside 50s, 408m gained and eight tackles a game and will contend for his third straight club champion award.

Watters, who coached St Kilda for 44 games in 2012 and 2013, said he wanted to draft the East Fremantle product, but the club’s recruiters had doubts about his kicking.

“I tried desperately to get Yeo to St Kilda,” Watters said on Footy WA.

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“We shared a manager, he was interested in coming and the recruiters weren’t happy with his kicking.

“Could not get him across the line.

“He tested so highly drafting wise, his agility was off the charts.

“He has some rare measurements alongside him.

“I pushed hard, but I couldn’t get it across the line.”

St Kilda held pick 25 in the 2011 national draft and eventually settled on midfielder Seb Ross,

Yeo was eventually drafted by the Brisbane Lions with pick 30 in 2011, where he played 27 games across two seasons, before he was traded to the Eagles at the end of 2013 for pick 28.

Since then he has developed into a genuine star, winning the John Worsfold Medal in 2017 and 2018, as well as All Australian berth in 2017 and played a pivotal role in last year’s premiership victory.