West Coast faces Brisbane in the first round of the home and away season for the third consecutive year. The Eagles defeated the Lions by 16 points in their round one meeting at Subiaco in 2008, while the Lions prevailed by nine points in the 2009 season opener at the Gabba, despite a six-goal haul from Mark LeCras.
The Lions welcomed former West Coast utility Brent Staker to the club during the off-season courtesy of a complex three-way trade with the Swans which also saw former Lion Bradd Dalziell move back home to join the Eagles.
The Lions currently have seven players recruited from Western Australia: Todd Banfield (Swan Districts), Simon Black (East Fremantle), Mitch Clark (East Fremantle), James Hawksley (Peel Thunder), Matthew Leuenberger (East Perth), Ash McGrath (South Fremantle) and Daniel Rich (Subiaco).
West Coast have won four of their past six matches against the Lions at the Gabba by an average of 54 points. However, the Lions have won their past two encounters against the Eagles at the Gabba.
The Eagles hold the best record of any AFL team against the Lions, with West Coast winning 26 of 36 encounters.
