Eagles off to a winning start

West Coast has overcome a dominant six-goal display from Jonathan Brown to post a 16-point win in front of 39,591 fans at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

The Eagles looked on course for an easy victory after bolting out to a 38-1 lead inside 23 minutes, but Brown single-handedly brought his team back into the contest with all four of Brisbane's first half goals.

And when Daniel Bradshaw kicked three quick goals after the re-start and Jamie Charman chipped in with another, the visitors hit the lead at the 18-minute mark of the third term.

But a Dean Cox inspired comeback helped the Eagles regain the lead at the final change as the home side piled on five unanswered goals from the 26-minute mark of the third term to the 14-minute mark of the final term to secure the 14.8 (92) to 11.10 (76) win.

Daniel Kerr made a successful return from a hamstring injury to finish with 27 disposals, while Matt Priddis (29 touches) and Michael Braun (27 possessions, one goal) also received plenty of the ball.

But it was Cox who shone brightest for West Coast, the big man collecting 29 disposals, 21 hit-outs and a crucial goal.

On the other side of the scale, Brown was pure class for Brisbane. Brown tallied 15 possessions and five marks as he tore West Coast's defence to shreds, with Bradshaw (three goals) offering valuable support.

Simon Black was prolific through the midfield with a game-high 30 possessions while new recruit Travis Johnstone (20 touches) enjoyed a solid debut.

West Coast started life after Ben Cousins and Chris Judd in grand style, slamming through the opening six goals of the match as Cox, Priddis and Kerr combined superbly at the stoppages.

But bit by bit Brisbane eroded the deficit, with Brown proving to be an unstoppable focal point for the Lions.

Brown kicked three goals in the second term to help whittle the deficit back to 19 points at the long break, and when Bradshaw, who missed the 2007 season with a knee injury, joined in the party with three quick goals after the re-start, the Lions hit the lead.

But the game turned once more when Nigel Lappin missed an open goal on the run from just 25m out.

The miss proved costly, with Cox taking a strong, contested mark shortly after to give the Eagles back the lead, and when the ruckman set up Adam Hunter for a major, the home side headed to the final change with a handy seven-point lead.

Goals to Chad Fletcher, Quinten Lynch and Mark LeCras saw the lead extend to 23 points midway through the final quarter and, although Brown's sixth goal of the night reduced the margin back to 11 points at the 18-minute mark, Brent Staker's 53m bomb sealed the deal for West Coast.

WEST COAST: 6.2, 7.5, 10.7, 14.8 (92)
BRISBANE: 1.2, 3.2, 9.6, 11.10 (76)

GOALS: West Coast: Wirrpanda 2, Waters 2, Seaby 2, LeCras 2, Hunter, Cox, Braun, Fletcher, Lynch, Staker 1
Brisbane: Brown 6, Bradshaw 3,Charman 1, Drummond 1
BEST: West Coast: Cox, Kerr, Seaby, Priddis, Wirrpanda, Braun, Waters
Brisbane: Brown, Black, Bradshaw, Johnstone, Drummond, Power
INJURIES: West Coast: Hunter (leg)
Brisbane: Adcock (right ankle)
REPORTS: Nil
CHANGES: Nil
UMPIRES: Head, Ellis, Hendrie
CROWD: 39,591 at Subiaco Oval