WEST Coast has suffered a blow before Saturday's clash with Collingwood, losing important defender Elliot Yeo to illness.

Yeo was a late withdrawal for the MCG meeting and was replaced by debutant Malcolm Karpany. The Magpies will enter the game unchanged.

Karpany was drafted by the Eagles with pick 31 at the 2013 NAB AFL Draft and is a lively small forward with pace and strong foot skills.

Yeo's absence will hurt the Eagles, who are hunting their first win over the Magpies at the MCG since 1995, when Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was in just his second season as a player for the Magpies.

The Eagles' form has been poor away from home but they remain in fifth place on the ladder, and a win over Collingwood would keep them in the race for a top-four finish.