Live AFL scores: West Coast host Brisbane in Round 19 clash at Optus Stadium
West Coast have lost five straight games - and haven’t beaten Brisbane since before the club’s premiership triumph. Can the Eagles turn it around on a chilly night at Optus Stadium?
AFL: West Coast have lost five straight games - and haven’t beaten Brisbane since before the club’s premiership triumph.
Can the Eagles turn it around on a chilly night at Optus Stadium?
It looms as one of the toughest tasks in footy, with Andrew McQualter’s side desperate to snare another win before the season is out but coming up against a Lions side that’s starting to round into form.
Lachie Neale’s Brisbane are fresh off a 90-point demolition of Essendon and have banked five consecutive wins ahead of their arrival in Perth.
Stay across all the action below, with the opening ball-up set for 6.10pm local time.
Aaron Kirby and Chris Robinson are reporting live.
The sit!
Lohmann has taken a screamer after losing Duggan with a good lead.
He jumped over the top and made the mark look easy.
He dobs the set shot and the Lions are coming as Reid remains on the bench.
WCE 32, BRI 16
There’s a step there
Harley Reid is now getting his ankle strapped after forgetting there’s a step up onto the ground from the bench and slipping on it.
Also, West Coast have kicked five to goals to one and a Answerth is on report!
Wild start to this one.
WCE 32, BRI 10
Waterman rolling!
Waterman has two in a minute!
His first came from a down-field free kick after Answerth flattened Reid in the middle after he had kicked the ball.
His next comes from the next clearance, the Eagles’ third from centre clearance.
The ball came to ground and West Coast pounced, Waterman getting loose at the back.
WCE 25, BRI 10
All happening
The Eagles have kicked two goals after Hutchinson went off with a hamstring that will keep him out for the rest of the night.
Meanwhile, the heavens have opened after it was dry throughout the entire lead up.
Logan Morris had the chance to answer but missed.
Bailey also missed a set shot not long after.
WCE 13, BRI 9
Injury?
Hutchinson is coming straight to the bench after missing a set shot from the pocket.
A smart kick found him on the lead but a push from behind has done his hamstring.
Strange decision to then take the kick as he missed and the Lions went end-to-end.
WCE 1, BRI 7
Underway
There was a slight delay after the siren but we are underway and the Lions have the free kick and go forward first.
We have a very early score review after McKenna claimed a goal after the ball came of Young’s knee.
WCE 0, BRI 1
Onto the ground
Both teams are out for their final warm-up runs.
And we have quite the jumper combination.
West Coast in their throwback Ochre, which is controversial enough, but the Lions have gone for the mustard and maroon.
I’m sure some fans will have strong feelings about those two.
Close history
West Coast’s previous two meeting with Brisbane have ended in 16 and 13-point losses.
Would Andrew McQualter take that tonight?
The Lions enter this one off the back of five straight wins while the Eagles have had five straight losses.
Shared history
There’s a fair bit of crossover history between clubs this evening.
Brandon Starcevich goes up against his old club for the first time tonight, so he’ll no doubt be feeling the pressure to perform.
Oscar Allen and Deven Robertson are two others who similarly made the move between clubs across the off-season. Allen failed to make the trip west having only just recovered from injury, while Robertson is out for the season - having hurt his knee the last time the Eagles wore the ochre jumper in Gather Round. He’s out on the turf chatting with some old teammates and Brisbane personnel.
The ochre’s back
West Coast will be in their throwback ochre kits tonight.
And while that’s a nice nostalgiac throwback for some, it’s bad memories of a rough era for others - and the stats bear that out.
The Eagles have an all-time record of 2 wins, 1 draw and 15 losses while wearing the jumper. Can they flip the script on that trend tonight, or will it be more of the same?
