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Can lethal Leigh's cubs do it again? |
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by Katharine Bosher | behindthegame.com.au
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West Coast hold the best record of any AFL team against the Brisbane Lions, and Chris Judd certainly won’t be missed by the Lions as he had previously polled Brownlow medal votes in 5 of the past eight clashes between the two sides.
Match details
West Coast V Brisbane Lions at Subiaco, 5.40pm AWDT
Recent history
Round 14, 2007: West Coast 9.10 (65) def by Brisbane 13.13 (91) @ Subiaco
Betting
West Coast $1.40
Brisbane $2.80
Last time they met
Possibly one of the biggest upsets of the season. The Lions sealed their first win in 8 weeks after Jonathan Brown, Jarred Brennan and Robert Copeland goaled late in the last quarter. Brown and Brennan each finished with four goals whilst Copeland finished with an equal-best career three goals.
Simon Black, Jed Adcock, Nigel Lappin and Rhan Hooper were amongst the best on ground, whilst Tim Notting finished with 31 disposals.
Key match-ups
- Jonathan Brown V Darren Glass
Coming off last season, having won the Coleman medal and the club's best and fairest, Jonathan Brown is clearly pivotal to the Lions' success. Darren Glass also had an outstanding season, winning his club's best and fairest. The new captain of the Eagles will not be easy for Brown to beat, but it will be a challenging task for Glass to get past the strength of Brown. The battle between these two dominant players will be a significant factor in determining the end result of the game.
- Jamie Charman V Dean Cox
Whilst Dean Cox is the best ruckman in the AFL, Jamie Charman has the height and strength to match. Both ruckmen excel in stoppages and cover ground nicely, whilst also being able to push up forward and kick a goal. The clash between these two will also be very significant in the outcome of the match as it will determine terms in the midfield.
Wildcard
- Mark LeCras
With Chris Judd and Ben Cousins gone, it opens up the opportunity for LeCras to step up even further with goals off a half-forward flank. He has a good lead and a strong mark for his size. The 21-year-old now has his chance to shine while stepping up to the big time.
Verdict
Although his abilities may be restricted after a year off with a knee reconstruction, Daniel Bradshaw will certainly be welcomed back into Leigh Matthews' side with open arms. His strong mark and accurate kick on goal will assist Jonathan Brown up forward immaculately. The Lions will take advantage of the fact Chris Judd has been farewelled from the club, although it will be a challenge to run out the Eagles midfield as it is their strongest point.
The Subiaco crowd will give the Eagles the home ground advantage, but as the Lions got over the line in their last meeting in Perth, this one remains a mystery. |
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