Let’s rewind a few years. Back to round nine, 2018 and the West Coast Eagles are playing reigning premiers Richmond.

The Tigers had snapped a 36-year premiership drought when they demolished Adelaide in the grand final about six months earlier.

‘Don’t Argue Dusty’ was regaled as the best player in the competition. Impossible to tackle, Dustin Martin would throw out his right arm and fend off would-be assailants. It was like he wielded a crow bar in his right hand, protecting the ball he carried in his left.

Not only was he the reigning Brownlow medallist, he was also the Norm Smith medallist as he put on a clinic against Adelaide. When the Tigers came to Perth to play the Eagles at Optus Stadium they were firm favourites to go-back-to-back.

Media in Melbourne were so convinced that Richmond was streets ahead of every other contender, they might have lobbied AFL heads supremo Gil McLachlan in his salubrious dockside office to hand over the Cup. You might have noticed, they can do that in Melbourne.    

No one else would get close, they assessed. At best other clubs were fighting for the silver medal.

On this night in Perth, though, they realised it was game on. The vernacular in Melbourne was that Eagles had their chance to win in 2015 and were mauled by the mighty Hawks. Time to slink off into the background and leave this to the big boys.

In two-and-a-half hours under the glowing spotlight of the Perth’s state of the art new stadium, the Eagles made a statement. And so did a West Coast bull.

Elliot Yeo is a fierce competitor. He was assigned the task of running with the best player in the game. The Eagles match committee assessed that rather than tagging Martin, they would be better served going head-to-head.

Yeo was the obvious choice for the role. A 189cm midfielder, who had just ascended to a full-time role in the engine room, having served his apprenticeship at half-back, he had the scent of Martin in his nostrils.

He had an unshakeable focus on getting the job done as perhaps the only man in the team’s midfield with the capacity to bring down the game’s best. Literally.

Yeo made an early statement as Martin looked to dodge and weave, carving his way out of half-back with dancing feet and absolute confidence he could launch the ball forward. There was disbelief etched across his face, like an impala run down by a cheetah, when Yeo claimed him from behind.

You didn’t need a degree in body language to understand the thoughts racing through Martin’s head. ‘Where the bloody hell did that come from’.

On two or three more occasions during the match, Martin could not escape Yeo’s clutches as both the individual and the team made a statement. They could seriously challenge for the flag.

History shows the Eagles locked away their fourth premiership a few months later. Yeo would be central to the success, winning the Club Champion Award and earning All-Australian selection.

The Eagles recruiting staff had known for some time that they completed a trade steal when Yeo looked to return home after two seasons with Brisbane. Taken in the 2011 ballot at selection 30, the Lions accepted pick 28 in return.

He had played 27 games in those two seasons and the Lions were loath to do the deal. But with senior coach Michael Voss shown the door a few of the young guys decided they wanted seek alternative career options.

Jarden Polec returned to Adelaide to join the Power and Patrick Karnezis made his way to Collingwood.

Tomorrow, against his former club, Yeo will play his 150^th game for the Eagles and become eligible for life membership.

He has been an exceptional player since making his debut in round 1, 2014 against the Western Bulldogs, is a two-time all-Australian and Club Champion and he will now join exalted company as the 45^th player to reach the 150-game mark for the club.

In recent weeks the club’s legion of fans have been provided a reminder of what we missed for 18 months when he was sidelined with osteitis pubis.

It has been a slow build, understandable given the chunk of work he was unable to complete, but he’s now patrolling the middle with trademark authority.

He will need to do that against the Lions as the Eagles strive to keep their season alive.

The first part of the equation is to win, and then cross fingers in hope that a result or two falls the right way so the Eagles sneak through the back door to play finals.