Yeo went off in the final quarter of Saturday night's match nursing a groin strain.
Minutes later, Reid pulled up abrubtly while chasing an opponent near the boundary line, with the emerging star immediately leaving the ground to have his right hamstring assessed.
Elliot Yeo acknowledges the crowd's cheers after his 200th game, having been injured earlier. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)
West Coast closed the margin to six points with 63 seconds remaining when Jack Williams kicked his third goal.
Reid sprinted back onto the ground after being given the all clear to resume, and the Eagles won the next centre clearance to give themselves a chance to draw.
But Essendon's defence held firm under the intense pressure, clearing the ball to ensure they wouldn't endure two draws in a row, following on from their stalemate against Collingwood last week.
The 11.11 (77) to 11.5 (71) win improved Essendon's record to 5-2-1.
Essendon midfield star Zach Merrett led the way with 29 disposals and three goals, while Kyle Langford kicked three goals.
Tim Kelly starred for West Coast with 29 disposals and nine clearances, while Jake Waterman and Williams kicked three goals apiece.Â
Reid endured a quiet night, finishing with 14 disposals and two clearances in his first match back from being rested.
West Coast will now be sweating on the seriousness of Yeo's groin injury, with the setback a crushing blow for the veteran in his 200th AFL match.
Essendon dominated the clearance battle 13-5 in the opening term, but their return of 2.5 meant the Eagles trailed by only 10 points at the first break.Â
Bombers ruckman Todd Goldstein became the first player to crack through the 10,000 barrier for hitouts during the opening term when he racked up his fifth ruck tap for the night.
West Coast snatched the lead early in the second quarter courtesy of goals to Waterman and Yeo.
But a series of horror turnovers and defensive mix-ups cost West Coast dearly as Essendon hit back hard to take a 22-point lead into half-time.Â
Reid tallied only six disposals in the first half.
West Coast sprung to life in the third quarter, with Reid providing the biggest highlight.
In a piece of play Dustin Martin would have been proud of, Reid fended off Merrett and Ben Hobbs before sending the ball forward to Reuben Ginbey, who found Jack Darling in the goalsquare.
The double fend off from Harley 😤— AFL (@AFL) #AFLEaglesDons pic.twitter.com/oVpkx1GPGzMay 4, 2024
The goal reduced the margin to four points, but Merrett hit back shortly after with a magical dribble goal from the pocket to help extend Essendon's lead back out to 15 points at the final change.Â
Eagles forward Noah Long injured his left knee while being tackled in the third quarter.Â
Essendon subbed off Jye Caldwell due to a tight calf.Â
West Coast had the chance to close the margin to four points with 10 minutes remaining when Waterman marked near goal, but the umpire reversed the ball after Eagles goalsneak Jamie Cripps pushed over an opponent.
The Eagles kept pushing despite Yeo's injury, but the Bombers were able to hang on to victory in a thriller.Â
