Shuey donned the red vest five minutes into the final term and spent the remainder of the match on the bench with ice heavily strapped to his left hamstring.
But in the rooms after the game, Shuey appeared unfazed, although he did spend a considerable amount of time stretching his hamstring.
Worsfold said the substitution was a precautionary measure.
"We were always going to sub him out," Worsfold said.
"His hammy was a little bit tight during the week. He had a fitness test yesterday for us to make the call. He had to go flat out yesterday for us to say he was fit enough to play, which he was.
"At three-quarter time we said we'd give him the first three or four minutes of the quarter and then sub him out."
A strong chance to win the NAB AFL Rising Star Award, Shuey appeared distressed as he was subbed out of the game following a superb three quarters where he had16 disposals, six inside 50s and four tackles.
But teammate Mark LeCras said Shuey's reaction may have had more to do with his annoyance at being dragged for the final term.
"I think his body's feeling good, so he was a little bit worried his form might have dropped off in that last quarter," LeCras quipped.
After three seasons with the Eagles, Shuey is finally starting to make his mark.
He was drafted at pick number 18 in 2008, but the Victorian-born midfielder spent his first season sidelined with osteitis pubis.
A string of injuries last year, as well as a bout of glandular fever, restricted him to just six games, but the 21-year-old has bounced back with a vengeance in 2011.
Shuey has played every game for the Eagles this year, and is one of their most consistent players, averaging 20 touches and four tackles a game, and is ranked number one at the club for inside 50 entries.
"We always knew he was going to be a very talented player but I think it's just a matter of him getting a good run at it," LeCras told afl.com.au.
"He had a fairly uninterrupted pre-season and has been able to string the games together.
"Even the games he played last year and the year before that he showed a fair bit, so I think he's still got a lot of development to come but he's going to be a great player for us in the future."
