Greater Western Sydney’s decision to let explosive midfielder Luke Shuey roam free on the expanses of Optus Stadium on Saturday night might’ve been a costly one, according to former West Coast wingman Xavier Ellis.

The Giants sent tagger Matt de Boer to Elliot Yeo, leaving Shuey to reel in 28 disposals, seven inside 50s, five clearances, five tackles and two goals in a best-on-ground performance.

Speaking on the latest edition of the Hard Ball Gets AFL podcast, Ellis said coach Leon Cameron may have erred in his judgment.

“Shuey has been tagged for six years, probably,” Ellis said.

“Even when he hasn’t been in the greatest form and sometimes was never in that upper echelon of midfielders in the competition - you wouldn’t have said he was in (the same category as) Fyfe and Dangerfield - he was always clamped.

“That game on the weekend wasn’t setting any standards and Shuey ... A couple of moments of class where he kicked goals and you’re like ‘oh yeah, Luke Shuey’s still pretty good, isn’t he?’.”

While he’s among the club’s more damaging players, Shuey is far from a lone force in West Coast’s engine room.

The return of Andrew Gaff and Elliot Yeo’s improved fitness will leave opposition coaches with more than a few things to ponder, according to Ellis.

“Say they tag Shuey and the duel best-and-fairest winner gets off the chain ... (Then) you’re like ‘ah, how did they let Yeo get off the chain, that’s ridiculous!’,” Ellis said.

“Yeo had an interrupted pre-season so his best footy’s still two weeks away, I’d say, with a bit more run through the engine..

“I just think they’ve got that midfield, West Coast, with that power, speed and strength ... And you can only tag one, you can’t tag two.”

Play Video Elliot Yeo kicked the goal of the night to all but ice the game for West Coast against GWS. Elliot Yeo kicked the goal of the night to all but ice the game for West Coast against GWS.

In this edition of Hard Ball Gets, Nick Rynne and Ellis also discuss: