It's hard to believe after the wretched season they've had, but after Gold Coast and Adelaide lost in the previous 24 hours, West Coast's finals chances are still flickering. No matter what happens between Essendon and Collingwood on Sunday, the Eagles will finish the round two wins out of the eight with six rounds remaining. After next week's bye they host Richmond, then play Adelaide (away), Collingwood (home), Essendon (away), Melbourne (home) and Gold Coast (away). They'd have to win five, and possibly all six, which would be near-on impossible on current form, but while there's life there's hope.

 

With the Eagles midfield under constant scrutiny, and minus Sharrod Wellingham who was dropped for a third time this season, Luke Shuey stepped up to the plate. The 2011 Rising Star runner-up had a brilliant 10-disposal, two-goal opening quarter and didn't look back. He finished with 30 touches, nine clearances, seven inside 50s and two goals to be the difference between the two teams. His goal from 50m in the first quarter exemplified his class in an otherwise scrappy encounter. The Eagles will need him to maintain that type of form to trouble teams for the remainder of the season.

 

For the second week in succession, the Lions had coach Justin Leppitsch ripping his hair out with some awful ball use. Against Richmond last week, Leppitsch said it was the main reason they suffered the 25-point loss. Against the Eagles it was the same story. The midfield – minus the Three Rs of Tom Rockliff, Daniel Rich and Jack Redden for the first time since they were drafted in 2008 – don't appear to know exactly where to kick when going forward. With Jonathan Brown's retirement still fresh in the memory, the mix of Daniel Merrett and Michael Close is still finding its feet. But in the meantime, indecision and poor execution is killing them.

 

The last remaining premiership player at the Lions is fighting for his career, and he showed glimpses of what he can offer in the forward half. With Brent Moloney and Andrew Raines continually shunted to the twos, coach Justin Leppitsch has shown this season he has little patience for older players not doing things his way. After a three-month calf injury, McGrath made two appearances as a sub before getting his first full crack against the Eagles. He's a clever footballer and showed just why, with a roved goal early in the second quarter, and a clever one-handed mark and checkside kick for another later in the term. He's not in his best shape, but the out-of-contract 31-year-old still looks dangerous in the forward half.

 

Without their best forward missing through suspension, you wondered how the Eagles forward line would function, but Jack Darling and Jeremy McGovern revelled in the extra space – for the first half at least. Darling used his vaunted running power to gather six first quarter marks, while McGovern stayed closer to goal and continued to show off one of the best sets of hands in the competition. Darling finished with 16 touches, seven marks and the match-sealing goal, while McGovern had 12, seven marks (three contested) and two goals. They faded in the second half, but provided two great targets in the front 50.