Australian Football

Match Report

West Coast, looking to go one step further this season than its Grand Final loss of last year, kicked off 2016 with a big win over Brisbane at Subiaco on Sunday evening. The Eagles kicked 26.10.166, the highest score of any AFL side in round one, with full-forward Josh Kennedy putting the disappointment of a scoreless 2015 Grand Final behind him to rack up eight goals. The final margin was 64 points but the Lions were able to take some positives out of the loss, not least their effort of kicking 15 goals and putting together a three-figure score. 

Brisbane kicked off the match of perfectly, with a goal to Tom Rockliff after a mark and a 50-metre penalty in the first few minutes. The Eagles then clicked into gear and goals to Nic Naitanui, Jamie Bennell and Kennedy saw them out to a 13-point lead at the 11-minute mark, sparking fears of a thrashing amongst Lions' fans. But a goal to ex-Cat Josh Walker got Brisbane knack on track and the two sides more or less traded goals for the rest of the term, leaving West Coast ahead, 7.4 to 5.2, the first change of ends. Kennedy kicked three first-quarter goals.

The Eagles set up the decisive break of the match in the second quarter with five majors in the first 15 minutes to take the martin out to 44 points. Brisbane managed two tighten up late in the term, and managed to add two goals to the Eagles' one to narrow the gap to 39 points at the half. 

For the most part in the second half, Brisbane were very competitive, buy three bursts of three goals each from the Eagles, one in the third quarter and two in the last, kept the Lions at bay. By three-quarter time, West Coast led by 50 points before coasting to a 64-point win, but the Lions did kick eight second-half goals, four in each of the last two terms, to demonstrate that they have a structure that should bring victories against some of the lower-ranked teams.

Kennedy was the clear stand-out for the Eagles, with his eight goals and 16 marks, while Matt Priddis's 43 touches suggested a second Brownlow Medal is a real possibility. For Brisbane, Daniel Rich (11 tackles, 23 disposals) was excellent, while ex-Blue Tom Bell showed positive signs with a 24-touch game.

The Eagles now turn their minds to a Grand Final rematch against Hawthorn at the MCG this Sunday, with the Hawks surprise first-round losers against Geelong. Brisbane will host North Melbourne at the Gabba in its first home game of the season in Saturday's twilight match.

GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 8; Cripps, Hill 3; Darling, Bennell, Naitanui, LeCras 2; McGovern, Redden, Yeo, Ellis
Brisbane: Taylor, Christensen 3; Schache, Rockliff, Walker, Rich 2; Hanley

BEST - WATODAY.COM.AU
West Coast: Kennedy, Naitanui, Priddis, Yeo, Shuey, Cripps
Brisbane: Rich, Bell, Robinson, Christensen, Taylor, Bastinac

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
West Coast: Kennedy, Priddis, Naitanui, Bennell, Shuey, Gaff
Brisbane: Bell, Taylor, Rich, Christensen, Robinson, Bastinac

INJURIES
West Coast: Nil
Brisbane: Merrett (illness) replaced in selection side by Beams, Robinson (calf)

REPORTS: Mitch Robinson (Brisbane Lions) reported for rough conduct on Xavier Ellis (West Coast) in the second quarter

UMPIRES: Fisher, Stephens, Pannell

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Anthony Hudson, Gerard Healy, Brad Johnson, Barry Hall