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The Brisbane Lions and West Coast Eagles will be fighting for pride only on Saturday night when they meet at the Gabba. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7.40pm (AEST).
Both sides finals hopes are gone and even Lions coach Justin Leppitsch admitted last week that it will be tough to keep his team motivated for the remainder of the season. The Lions are 4-11 for the season but there have been good signs over the last month and a half. The Lions are 3-3 in the last six weeks including impressive home wins against Carlton and North Melbourne.
In last week’s 25-point loss to the Tigers the Lions had more scoring shots up until three quarter time even though they trailed by 18 points. They dominated the opening minutes of the final quarter having the first seven inside 50s of the quarter, but as they did all game, were unable to convert.
They controlled various parts of the game but let themselves down with their forward entries, having no one able to take a mark inside 50, a problem they have had for most of the year ranking last in the league. Main target Daniel Merrett was well beaten by Alex Rance.
Still the Lions would be encouraged by the continued good form of their midfield speedsters in rookie Lewis Taylor, Dayne Zorko, Josh Green and Pearce Hanley. This is one area where the Lions could really trouble the Eagles as the Eagles’ midfield this season has looked slow with no outside run.
The midfield has been the Eagles’ achilles heel this season with too many inconsistent performances. Their forward entries have been poor and so has the rebound out of defence. They simply butcher the ball too many times.
Last week against the Swans, twenty of the Swans scoring shots came from Eagles’ turnovers.
However there have been some good signs from the Eagles in the last four weeks, beating a team above them on the ladder for the first time against the Suns four weeks ago. This was followed by a win over the Saints in Melbourne and competitive losses the last two weeks against Fremantle and Sydney.
They lose key forward Josh Kennedy this week to suspension but regain ruckman Nic Natanui who dominated the last time these two teams met last year. One young Eagle forward to watch is Jeremy McGovern who has shown excellent signs with his attack on the ball.
The Lions will hope young key defender Justin Clark continues his form from last week when he beat Tigers full forward Jack Riewoldt.
Similarly up the other end of the ground, the Eagles will be hoping Eric McKenzie is ready to step into recently retired Darren Glass’ shoes after keeping Lance Franklin to one goal last week.
Prediction:
The Lions have won four of their last six at the Gabba against the Eagles and their best hope will be their pace around the packs and their ability to force the Eagles into mistakes. These areas are what won them the game in their last home game against the Kangas two weeks ago.
The Eagles will be hoping that Natanui can control the ruck and give his midfielders first control of the ball and hope their tall forwards can take advantage.
The Lions loss of leading possession getter Tom Rockliff to suspension is a big blow to the Lions coming on top of an injury to Jack Redden last week and may be too much for the Lions to overcome.
Eagles by 16 points.
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