RECAP: Brisbane beat spirited West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium

Even though they only managed the one goal, Andrew McQualter will be happy with his side’s work.

Brisbane have come at them a few times and they were able to hold up and even come away with a few attacks.

The Eagles’ pressure is keeping them in the game with their ball use less than ideal.

Herbert leads West Coast’s ball winners with 11 but the Lions are really starting to own the ball.

Bailey and Jack Williams are West Coast’s leading clearance winners which probably sums up the issue they need to fix if they want to really stun the premiers.

Elliot Yeo is having a tough time of things again.

He has just two touches for the match and is constantly behind the Lions’ mids.

Duursma has given the Eagles a goal at least to keep the Lions at bay.

WCE 40, BRI 31

The tackling is stepping up as the Lions realise they are in a contest.

West Coast have not been great in this quarter but their pressure is keeping them in the game.

Everything has been hard for the Lions and players from both teams are being made to earn the ball.

Clearances are dead even but the Lions have 28 inside 50s to 18.

WCE 34, BRI 31

West Coast’s star is back on the field and he gives Answerth a little bang off the ball and gives away a free kick.

The Eagles will just be happy he is back though.

WCE 33, BRI 25

The Eagles are letting Brisbane escape out the back to easy by not covering their man after the contest.

Lohmann got Brisbane’s third all alone out the back.

Meanwhile, Harley Reid is still not back on the ground and Duursma is filling his shoes in the engine room.

WCE 32, BRI 23

That was one of the wilder quarters of the season and it’s worth scrolling back to take a look if you’re just joining us.

The Eagles, who are one of the worst starting teams in the competition, produced their best first term of the season to jump out to a four-goal lead.

But the reigning premiers have slowly reeled them back in on the ground after Harley Reid hurt himself while on the bench.

He has been with the medical staff looking at his ankle for more than 15 minutes and went down the race before the break.

Starcevich is enjoying playing his former club and leads the Eagles’ ball-winners.

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

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 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

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