Westcoast vs Brisbane - Round 19

Westcoast vs Brisbane - Subiaco - Saturday Night

Westcoast 16th - 4-14 - 76.32%
Brisbane 15th - 5-13 - 79.61%

On the night where the competitions two top sides lock horns at the MCG, a different battle will be waged accross the nullabor in WA.

The competitions two biggest dissapointments of 2010 will fight out to see who wins the Wooden Spoon this season.

For the Eagles it will be the first in the 24 season history of the club, whilst for the Lions, it will be their first since 1998.

Westcoast were deplorable last week against their cross town rivals, in one of the worst performances of a terrible season.

Brisbane on the other hand tried hard, had their moments but just butchered the ball far too much to topple the talented young demons.

Foot skills is the one issue that needs real focus here. These two sides last week demonstrated probably the poorest example of field kicking I have ever seen.

Brisbane had 85 kicks in the first half, 47 of them were innefective. Westcoast also went around at 55% for the afternoon in their game.

It is a sad sight to see when clubs are so bereft of confidence that they miss the most basic targets by foot.

The Eagles kicking efficiency for the season ranks 15th, whilst the Lions are last accross the past six weeks.

This has the potential to be one uguly game of footy, for anyone who isn't glued to events at the MCG.

Brendan Fevola predictably has been put away for surgery and will miss the rest of the season, he has been sore for a long time, and has fought on quite bravely in my oppinion, but he was a spent force as early as Round 15.

Jonathan Brown on the other hand seems to be tracking along okay. Whilst not at 100% he has been brave for the past three weeks and looms as a potential match winner.

Last week was a familiar story for the Lions. The kids looked ok, some of the veterans look tired, and the new recruits failed to deliver.

As predicted they finished stronger, but just lacked the early season polish to nail the Demons in the end.

They also lack a bit of pace through the middle and might struggle on the wider expands of Subiaco.

Sherman came back in, and showed some alright signs, but must string it together and Aaron Cornelius must surely get another go now with Fev put out pasture.

Brennan, Rich and Rischitelli are the keys for Brisbane in this game. They can kick long and break the lines, they should be able to set up for the Lions who will need to be long and direct, as their skills will bring them undone if they overuse the ball and get forced wide on the large Subiaco wings.

The Eagles have one of the competitions best forwards in super form at present and it's hard to find a match up.

Mark LeCras has kicked 58 goals for the season in a rubbish team and must surely be marching towards the All Australian selection he deserved last year.

Looking through the Lions line up, I think Joel Patfull will get first crack at him, outside of that maybe Staker would get a go.

It's a massive headache for Brisbane.

Merrett might get Kennedy who has been solid as well, or perhaps Lynch, with Staker or Patfull getting Kennedy dependant upon which one is asigned to Lecras.

One thing the Eagles have done well all year is score once in attack. They leak in defence, they are slow and sloppy in the middle, but they are ranked third for scores once inside fifty.

Brisbane's defence has fought hard, but without Drummond, and with Merrett out of form, they do look poor.

Westcoast have started well in their last five games at Subiaco, and the Lions have won only four first quarters this year and conceded five goals on average in every first term this year.

If Westcoast jump them, as shaky as they are, they will hold off the Lions who don't have the capacity to overwhelm sides at present with their lack of form and conditioning.

Schofield could possibly get the job on Jonathan Brown which is a huge ask, but the Lions once again need more goal kicking options, an age old problem for this team.

The report is bleak for both teams, but so is the situation.
For the Eagles it's about a total rebuild, whilst for the Lions it's about getting out of this season as soon as possible and re-grouping towards what should be a better 2011.

Right now though, the Eagles look the goods here.
Westcoast are a far better side at home and recent Subiaco efforts against visiting teams have been highly competitive.
A similar effort will be enough here and they will put themselves in the mix once more to avoid an unwanted accolade, and perhaps confine the once mighty Lions to that fate.

Westcoast by 16 points