The Lions, who will no doubt have their work cut out for them this Sunday when they host the current League leaders at the Gabba, have identified some areas that could help them cause an upset.
Assistant Coach Mark Harvey believes getting first use of the ball from out of the centre will be critical - particularly against a team with two dominant ruckmen.
“That’s the real challenge,” Harvey told LIONS TV in this week’s Vero Coaches’ Wrap.
“Perhaps we have to read (Nick) Naitanui and (Dean) Cox’s hitouts and rove and shark them.”
“We need to make sure we challenge the opposition in first-possession, contested ball and then spread from stoppages.”
“We’ll come up with right tactics in and around there hopefully.”
On paper, the Lions seem to match their highly fancied opponents in some of the ball-winning statistical categories - having accumulated more contested possessions (1,284 to 1,264) and more centre clearances (333 to 330) than the Eagles so far this season.
However, it’s the effectiveness of those possessions and ability to move the ball forward that seems to separate the two sides currently.
West Coast are the competition benchmark in marks - both contested and uncontested - and are among the most proficient teams in getting the ball inside 50m and scoring from their forays forward.
It is therefore critical that Lions limit the Eagles’ opportunities by getting their hands on the ball first.
