VISUALISING what his best football looks like has helped Elliot Yeo re-establish himself amongst the AFL's most exciting up-and-coming stars this season.

Coming off a "frustrating" year, the powerful West Coast utility has been in scintillating touch and sits outright second in the AFL Coaches Association champion player award.

While Yeo's talent has always been obvious, settling at half-back with stints pinch-hitting in midfield has worked wonders for his consistency and the 23-year-old's self-belief has been fuelled by changes to his preparation.

Before each match, the high-flying Eagle pictures how he wants to play and watches opposition footage to feel ready for gameday.

"We all have our opposition reviews … I like to have a look at the iPad the day before a game and re-hash (that)," Yeo told AFL.com.au.

"But also visualising myself and how I would like to play (has been beneficial). Visualising what I do best and just backing myself in. 

"It's something new that I've done. It's certainly helped, that's for sure. 

"But I think the preparation earlier in the week has (also) helped a lot. 

"I feel that throughout the week if I've changed a couple of things, that gives me confidence going into a game.

"You build that barrier of confidence - as Drew Petrie has said in one of our meetings - in yourself going into the game that you know you can execute your role to 100 per cent." 

Yeo was honest with himself after last season, admitting he plateaued after his breakout 2015 campaign. 

There was little difference in terms of kicks, marks and goals, but his impact fluctuated as he was shuffled between roles. 

Now he is back playing instinctive football as a rebounding defender, and would be a shoo-in if the All Australian team was picked this week.

"(Last season) was pretty hard. My form was pretty inconsistent and it is quite frustrating – I was getting frustrated in myself," Yeo said. 

"I knew that something had to change at the end of the year and I worked on a couple of things over the break. 

"I'm just glad that all the hard work I put in over the pre-season is coming into my form now." 

Yeo started 2017 with a bang, booting two goals from half-back and picking up 26 touches in a 43-point triumph over North Melbourne, and has kept his foot to the floor. 

He leads the competition for marks (68) and is only one contested grab shy of his 2016 tally (15), while his disposal (25) and contested possession (10.3) numbers are easily career-highs. 

But Yeo's best might still be ahead of him as a bullocking midfielder. 

In bursts this year he has added another dimension to the Eagles' engine room with his size, power and aerial prowess, and he aspires to play on the ball.

The obvious comparison is to Nat Fyfe – who Yeo blanketed in a standout Western Derby performance – but the Fremantle superstar is just one player the West Coast beast admires. 

"It's not just Fyfey. You watch a fair few other players – Danger's (Patrick Dangerfield) one of them," Yeo said.

"A lot of players are looking up to players at that elite level and striving to do some of the things and bring into their game what they do.

"It's certainly a good learning curve for players like myself to watch the elite like Fyfe, Danger, (Joel) Selwood and Gary Ablett." 

While hype is building around Yeo, who is still only 91 games into his career, the East Fremantle product isn't paying any attention. 

The Eagles are on a team mission after last year's bitter elimination final defeat to the Western Bulldogs – who they face in a blockbuster on Friday night - and Yeo's personal frustration is also still fresh in his memory.

"I look at it that you've got to try and stay in your bubble and not get caught up in it all (the hype)," he said.

"I've got some role models around me that will be able to pull me into line if something does get too out of the ordinary.

"Some (of them are) teammates and the old man is one of them as well, he'd give me a clip across the ears if I seem to be getting out of line.

"But at this stage, I'm preparing every week and it seems to be working."