Where and when: Gabba, Sunday, March 23, 12:10pm (10:10am WST)

TV: Live on 7 and 7plus in WA, nationally on Fox Footy and Kayo (see broadcast guide here)

Last time we met: West Coast 14.9 (93) defeated by Brisbane Lions 16.10 (106) at Optus Stadium, round 19, 2024.

It was a spirited showing from West Coast, pushing Brisbane all the way to the end in a high-pressure contest. The Eagles started with a good intensity and took the game on with run and handball, kicking the opening goal, and looking like the better team for most of the first term. Both teams maintained pressure, but Brisbane’s clearance dominance broke through in the remaining three quarters. West Coast’s senior midfielders produced strong performances, with Tim Kelly managing 29 touches and seven inside 50s, and Elliot Yeo (24 and six clearances) following suit.

Dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale was a standout for the Lions, managing 13 clearances, 34 touches and two goals, Hugh McCluggage (32 touches and seven inside 50s) and Josh Dunkley (26 and a goal) also impressed.

What it means for the Eagles: After suffering a disappointing 87-point loss to Gold Coast in round one, The Eagles will be looking to produce a much more competitive performance against the Lions on Sunday. The off-season saw a number of significant changes for the Eagles’ club as a whole, including a new head coach and a new game plan, and a significant number of new players. Learning a new system will take some time, but as long as the Eagles’ show competitiveness and intensity around the contest, they will be moving in the right direction.

The stat: Jack Graham had 75 pressure points on his Eagles debut last week, ranked fourth in the AFL.  

The match-up: Tim Kelly v Lachie Neale

After a relatively quiet game against the Suns last weekend, Tim Kelly (14 disposals, six tackles) will be looking to get back to his best this weekend at the Gabba. He will have his work cut out for him, likely matched up on dual Brownlow medallist and premiership Lion Lachie Neale. Neale also had an uncharacteristically quiet game last week, finishing with just 10 touches, and will no doubt be gearing up for a strong bounce-back.

It’s a big week for: West Coast’s midfield

Gold Coast produced an incredibly dominant midfield performance against the Eagles last weekend, leaving the blue and gold on the back foot for the entirety of the game. The Eagles lost the contested ball by 43, struggling to get their hands on the footy both in the ruck and at ground level. The Eagles mids will have had plenty to work on throughout the week, and will be looking to produce a more balanced performance against the reigning premiers on Sunday.

Big call: After kicking one goal last weekend in his first game in the blue and gold, Matt Owies will kick two goals this week in his second game for the Eagles.

A gallant West Coast pushed reigning premier Brisbane all the way at the Gabba on Sunday before falling short by 19 points. 

The Eagles, thrashed by 87 points just a week ago by Gold Coast, gave the premiers all they could handle for three quarters, leading at the final change before succumbing 14.10 (94) to 11.9 (75).

After conceding the game’s first five goals, Brisbane had to call on all its experience to first edge its way back into the contest and eventually over-run the visitors in oppressive conditions.

The Lions kicked 10 goals to three after half-time to win, as players from both teams suffered from cramp in the heat and humidity.

It was a an engrossing contest from the outset, with Andrew McQualter’s men stunning the hosts.

They were desperate, harassed Brisbane into constant error and were set-up superbly behind the ball when the Lions won it back in the first half.

Tim Kelly (29) and Liam Baker (24) were excellent in the middle of the ground, while Liam Ryan (three goals and an assist from 16 touches) was a constant headache inside 50.

West Coast quickly silenced the bumper Gabba crowd of 30,012, outworking the hosts in the early exchanges to blast out to a 31-point advantage.

Tyrell Dewar was indicative of his team’s endeavour, kicking two goals from nine first quarter disposals as he stormed up and down a wing.

If the Eagles weren’t winning the ball at the stoppage, they were pressuring Brisbane into uncharacteristic errors.

When Oscar Allen got a freakish off-break bounce from his speculative 50m effort, the visitors had the game’s biggest lead.

The Lions stemmed the bleeding late in the first term and then exchanged goals in the second, but the Eagles still held a four-goal advantage at the main break.

After wrestling back the advantage, Brisbane could have won by more if it was a little more efficient, finishing with 12 more clearance wins and 12 more inside 50s.

Lachie Neale bounced back from his quiet round one performance, leading the way with 35 disposals and a goal, while Callum Ah Chee’s three third quarter goals were significant.

Dayne Zorko (28), Jaspa Fletcher (18 and a goal) and Jarrod Berry (26) all had big influences, as did Neale’s fellow co-captain Harris Andrews.

The Eagles had a major focus on improving at the contest after being routed by the Suns, and only lost the contested possessions by one against a hardened outfit. 

West Coast will take plenty of positives as the team heads home to host Fremantle in RAC Derby No.60 at Optus Stadium next Sunday. 

BRISBANE                1.2       4.3       9.6       14.10 (94)
WEST COAST            5.2       8.3       9.9       11.9 (75)

GOALS
Brisbane: Ah Chee 3, Morris 3, McLachlan 2, Hipwood 2, Neale, Dunkley, Bailey, Fletcher
West Coast: Ryan 3, Dewar 2, Brockman 2, Petruccelle, Hall, Cripps, Allen

BEST
Brisbane: Neale, Fletcher, Andrews, Zorko, Berry, McCluggage
West Coast: Baker, Ryan, Kelly, Dewar, Edwards, Maric

INJURIES
Brisbane: Nil
West Coast: Nil

SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane: Conor McKenna (replaced Bruce Reville in the third quarter)
West Coast: Jack Petruccelle (replaced Bailey Williams in the third quarter)

Crowd: 30,012 at the Gabba