Early in the 2018 AFL grand final, many could be forgiven for believing the game was a repeat, a painful replay of a Saturday three years earlier in which Hawthorn dominated the scoreboard in the 2015 decider against the Eagles.

After Luke Shuey kicked the first goal, the Hawks reeled off the next five to put the pressure on a young Eagles outfit.

Fast forward three years and the Magpies booted the first five despite West Coast having a fair share of possession, clearances and opportunities.

Star midfielder Elliot Yeo was having his own doubts while being blanketed by Levi Greenwood in the first half.

"I was coming off the bench and I was thinking here we go it is just like 2015, and as I am running to the edge of the square Greenwood has popped his head in and went, it's just like 2015 again isn't it?"

The sledge, which was revealed on the final episode of Eagles Media documentary Friends, Family Flags, the story of 2018, sparked Yeo.

"I was thinking this bloke has just gone the early crow, which you never do," Yeo recalls.

See the full episode in the player below. 

32:35

Friends, Family, Flags - The Grand Final - Time to Fly

After a season of constantly being doubted, the Eagles head to Melbourne to face Collingwood in what would be considered one of the best Grand Finals in history

Adam Simpson says in the documentary, Yeo's tag helped free up Luke Shuey who had a dominant first half. 

"They flipped the roles, and freed up Yeoy in the second half but the damage was done in the first two and a half quarters," Simpson recalls. 

Yeo went on to kick a critical goal in the third term which put the Eagles in front.

Relive the entire documentary series.

https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/video/friends-family-flags