Where and when: The Gabba. Saturday, June 20 (5.40pm AWST)
TV: Live on 7 Mate, Fox Sports 3, Kayo and the official AFL app
What it means for the Eagles: Saturday’s match will be about redemption on two fronts. First, the Eagles will want to atone for their lacklustre showing against the Suns, which resulted in a 44-point round two loss. Second, the team will want to exact some revenge on Brisbane, who bettered them by, ironically, 44 points the last time the teams met at The Gabba (Round 1, 2019). West Coast will also be eager to put in a good performance for their milestone men, Andrew Gaff (200 games) and Jamie Cripps (150 club games).
The stat: Elliot Yeo has evolved into a tackling machine in recent years. He led the league for total tackles in 2019 (167) and is ranked first in the competition this year after two rounds with 18 effective tackles in his stats column. The Eagles will need its two-time John Worsfold medallist to be at his defensive best against the Lions, who possess one of the AFL’s most mobile centre lines.
The matchup: Jack Darling v Harris Andrews
This contest could determine the outcome of Saturday night’s game. Darling might have only picked up a pair of goals in West Coast’s first two games, but the club’s back-to-back leading goal-kicker has been in the thick of the action this season, registering six score involvements so far. He appears poised for a big outing and has the capacity to break a game open with his strength, speed and sharp work in front of the big sticks. Andrews, who earned his first all-Australian blazer last year, will be using every trick in his defensive playbook to stop Darling. It will be an engaging and pivotal battle.
It’s a big week for: Andrew Gaff and Jamie Cripps
The dynamic Eagles duo will be desperate to light up The Gabba in their milestone matches. Gaff will be aiming to gather plenty of the Sherrin in his 200th senior outing while Cripps, who will become a life member of the Eagles upon playing his 150th game in blue and gold, will be hell bent on kicking a bag against Brisbane on his special day.
Big call: Jack Petruccelle runs wild and kicks three goals
