RECAP: Brisbane beat spirited West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium

41,560 have packed into Optus Stadium for what has turned out to be a nice night for footy apart from a small bit of rain in the opening term.

Will they see a grandstand finish?

WCE 62, BRI 80

The Ashcroft brothers have been huge and this one hurts the home side badly.

They gave away another 50-metre penalty in their own goalsquare which leads to a Brisbane goal.

Ashcroft was left alone boundary-side of the contest and makes the goal look easy off one step.

WCE 61, BRI 78

West Coast get the first major but they messed it up a few times first.

Kelly missed the target going forward twice before Starcevich gave away a dozy 50-metre penalty to Draper who missed a long-range set shot.

The Eagles were bold from the kick in and eventually found Yeo on the 50-metre arc.

He launched long to Waterman out the back and he goals from the line.

WCE 61, BRI 72

Reid has double-digit touches in that quarter but no one is coming with him.

Duursma and Graham have had two touches between them since halftime, both to the young gun.

Clearances remain in the home side’s favour but the top six ball winners are all Lions.

Shanahan nabbed a late major thanks to a nice mark and then snap from the boundary but they need more from him to lock the ball forward from their clearances.

Williams also needs to be smarter with his taps.

He’s doing well to win them but he keeps knocking them down the Lions’ throats.

The Eagles have a path back into this game.

They are leading the clearance game 29 to 26 off the back of an 11 to six advantage at centre throw ups.

However, they are getting killed with terrible ball use.

The Eagles are making so many unforced errors it makes everything else so hard.

WCE 49, BRI 64

Duggan takes a courageous intercept and finally finds a target by foot.

It lets Shanhan free Davis who spots up Waterman in the pocket.

The big man makes it three goals straight for him and stems the bleeding.

Just the Eagles’ second goal from turnover.

WCE 48, BRI 57

The Lions are now stalking their prey and the Eagles are buckling.

Reid got the clearance but his kick had no direction and it came straight back past him.

West Coast’s defence keeps getting turned around and torched out the back after turnovers.

WCE 42, BRI 57

Bazzo has saved the Eagles time and again but turnovers from halfback make it impossible for West Coast to get any momentum.

This goal comes after some poor defending from Starcevich allows a chest mark on the goal line.

Brisbane lead for the first time since the opening goal of the match.

WCE 42, BRI 45

West Coast had two chances at goal but Yeo hit the post and Reid missed a dribbler.

The Lions then break away and Charlie Cameron get the Lion back within three points from the square.

Lachie Neale has tweaked an ankle but is staying out there.

WCE 42, BRI 39

McQualter was happy with the effort and pressure but says the Lions are having too much time in the forward half.

The Eagles sound like they will adjust a few tactics as well.