AFTER a week from hell, at least Sunday's clash with the bottom-placed Brisbane Lions went to script for West Coast.

Having endured seven days of fierce scrutiny, calls for sackings, delistings and retirements – and then the emotion of favourite son Matt Priddis' shock decision to hang up the boots – the Eagles needed a steadying win over the wooden spoon favourites. 

It didn't go all the home side's way against the plucky but wasteful young Lions, however a 17.11 (113) to 6.9 (45) victory has lifted the Eagles back into the top eight and provided a much-needed percentage boost. 

Full match coverage and stats

A five-goal-to-nil second quarter powered them to a match-defining 35-point break at half-time and, after the Lions showed some fight during a stalemate third term, it was party time in the final stanza.

Star spearhead Josh Kennedy opened the floodgates and, perhaps spurred on by a recent trend of final-quarter fadeouts and queries over their fitness, the Eagles put the foot down and booted five goals to one to blow out the final margin. 

Five talking points: West Coast v Brisbane Lions

Kennedy finished with six majors to stay in touch in the race for a historic third-straight Coleman Medal, only four behind leader Joe Daniher on 53 goals.

Partner in crime Jack Darling (two goals) was important early for the hosts, Mark LeCras (two) scrapped and chased like his career depended on it, while Dom Sheed (29 disposals, two) led a midfield brigade which had a rare convincing win in the clearance battle (50-38). 

Left to lead the ruck in Nathan Vardy's absence, veteran Drew Petrie and pinch-hitter Jeremy McGovern restricted Lions star Stefan Martin's influence, despite losing hit-outs (38-55).

Andrew Gaff was prolific in his 150th game, Luke Shuey bounced back from an early ankle injury, Sam Mitchell was typically influential and Elliot Yeo (seven clearances) was a bull in the clinches.

Lions skipper Dayne Beams (41 possessions, nine clearances) couldn't have done anymore to lift his side in the absence of suspended star Dayne Zorko, while superboot Daniel Rich (32) fought through a tag from Mark Hutchings and youngster Alex Witherden (28) tried hard. 

But the Lions' skill execution and decision-making let them down badly in hostile territory.

The Eagles pounced on turnovers and fed a supply-starved forward line, which duly snapped an 11-game streak – the equal-longest in club history – without topping 100 points.

"Flat-track bullies, are we?" Eagles coach Adam Simpson quipped.

"It's been a challenge for us to get supply … with field position, clearances and contested ball.

"To get that right today probably shows what we can do when we get it in there." 

The undermanned Lions made a dream start through Ben Keays and the visitors were up for the fight early, heading into the first break down by only five points.

But when the Eagles stepped up a gear Chris Fagan's young outfit struggled to keep up.  

"I think we went back into our shells," Fagan said.

"There were times, though, when we did use it well and we opened the game right up.

"We just didn't finish off, going inside 50 today.

"We want to stay brave with our ball movement."

Lions set to make at least five changes for Dogs clash

West Coast piled on five unanswered goals in the second term, highlighted by LeCras' audacious effort from the pocket.

In the second quarter alone, West Coast dominated clearances (15-9), inside 50s (15-7) and disposals (101-89) and, pleasingly for Simpson, kicked on to a thumping victory.

Ball magnet Luke Partington (16 disposals) did some nice things on debut, including snapping a popular goal in the third term.

Lions first-gamer Sam Skinner – coming back from a ruptured ACL – finished with two goals, while fellow debutant Jacob Allison showed promise from 20 touches.

It was a valuable learning experience for the young Lions, but they have now lost seven-straight games to the Eagles and eight in a row at Domain Stadium. 

MEDICAL ROOM
West Coast: Luke Shuey needed treatment in the rooms for an ankle issue but is fine and the Eagles had no other injury concerns.
Brisbane Lions: Dayne Beams looked sore at times with his strapped shoulder but the Lions got through unscathed.

NEXT UP
The Eagles head back to the scene of last round's capitulation against Collingwood to face St Kilda in an 'eight-point' game at Etihad Stadium, while the Lions return home to host the resurgent Western Bulldogs at the Gabba.

WEST COAST            4.1    9.4    12.7    17.11 (113)                  
BRISBANE LIONS     3.2    3.5     5.8       6.9 (45)           

GOALS

West Coast: Kennedy 6, Darling 2, LeCras 2, Sheed 2, McGovern, Mitchell, Partington, Duggan, Yeo
Brisbane Lions: Skinner 2, Keays, Schache, Bastinac, Rockliff

BEST 
West Coast: Sheed, Kennedy, Duggan, Gaff, Mitchell, Redden
Brisbane Lions: Beams, Rich, Bastinac, Martin, Witherden, Taylor

INJURIES 

West Coast: Nil
Brisbane Lions: Nil

Reports: Nil

Umpires: J.Dalgleish, R.O'Gorman, C.Deboy

Official crowd: 32,652