Saturday’s fourth AFL Round 17 match is between Brisbane Lions and West Coast Eagles with the game to be played at Gabba. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:40 PM local time with away team West Coast Eagles currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Brisbane Lions and West Coast Eagles.
Round: Round 17 , July 12, 2014, 7:40 PM
Stadium: Gabba
Weather: 22° Sunny.
Preview:
The Lions take on the Eagles on Saturday, 7.40PM at the GABBA. The West Coast Eagles will go into this one as favourites, currently in 11th ladder position against a 17th-placed Lions outfit. While the Eagles really need to win here in order to cling to their faint finals hopes, the Lions would love to spoil the party. However, the Brisbane team have recently been decimated by both injury and suspension, not to mention the loss of retired skipper Jonathan Brown. They will have to face the Eagles without midfield prime-movers Tom Rockliff, Jack Redden, and Daniel Rich, something which will probably be too difficult against the Eagles.
Teams:
BRISBANE 
B Justin Clarke, Matt Maguire, Joel Patfull
HB Daniel McStay, Jed Adcock, Ryan Harwood
C Dayne Zorko, James Aish, Ryan Lester
HF Lewis Taylor, Michael Close, Josh Green
F Darcy Gardiner, Daniel Merrett, Ashley McGrath
FOLL Stefan Martin, Pearce Hanley, Rohan Bewick
I/C Claye Beams, Marco Paparone, Sam Mayes,Mitch Golby
EMG Jack Crisp, Jordan Lisle, Andrew Raines
IN Mitch Golby
OUT Tom Rockliff (Suspension)
WEST COAST 
B Sam Butler, Will Schofield, Shannon Hurn
HB Xavier Ellis, Eric Mackenzie, Jacob Brennan
C Chris Masten, Matt Priddis, Brad Sheppard
HF Andrew Gaff, Jack Darling, Patrick McGinnity
F Nic Naitanui, Callum Sinclair, Mark LeCras
FOLL Scott Lycett, Luke Shuey, Mark Hutchings
I/C Jeremy McGovern, Simon Tunbridge, Ashley Smith, Dominic Sheed
EMG Adam Carter, Josh Hill, Blayne Wilson
IN Nic Naitanui, Callum Sinclair, Simon Tunbridge,Ashley Smith, Dominic Sheed
OUT Jamie Cripps (Omitted), Sharrod Wellingham (Omitted), Josh Kennedy (Suspension), Dean Cox (Soreness),Matt Rosa (Pectoral tendon)
News:
West Coast AFL coach Adam Simpson has Nic Naitanui returning and will blood fresh faces on Saturday night in Brisbane.
West Coast’s finals chances are over following their loss to Sydney and, with Josh Kennedy, Matt Rosa, Scott Selwood and Elliot Yeo sidelined, Simpson wants to find out more about his playing list against the Lions.
Naitanui was a late withdrawal from the Sydney loss with a sore body – and coming off a kickless, markless game the previous week against Fremantle.
However, Simpson was happy with his form before that and will back him unless his body continues to struggle, meaning he might need to shut down for the rest of 2014.
“He had a month there of dominance when he was the best ruckman in the competition through performance and his numbers. He was a bit off against St Kilda and he looked like he needed a break against Freo, so we gave him one.
“We think him having a rest is going to make him perform better. We don’t want to get him to the end of the year and him needing another operation so we need to assess that. But it’s not at that level.”
There are plenty of change at West Coast, with Rosa, Kennedy, Sharrod Wellingham, Brad Sheppard and Jamie Cripps confirmed outs.
Defender Blayne Wilson gets his first chance since round 23 last year, while Ashley Smith plays his first game of 2014 taking over as half-forward from Cripps. Dom Sheed and Simon Tunbridge also receive another opportunity.
“We are going with a pretty young side and see what a couple of young guys can do who have been playing at East Perth. We are excited with what we might see this week … albeit we haven’t got a heap of depth in our midfield at the moment with the injuries we’ve got.”
Hawthorn premiership player Xavier Ellis will reach his 100th AFL game in his first season with the Eagles after a horror run with injuries since starring in the Hawks’ 2008 premiership win.
“It’s a credit to him to get back from what he’s gone through with his preparation and I don’t think we have seen the best of Ellis yet – so I look forward to the next 100,” Simpson said.
“For a guy who has played four games in three years – to come over here and manage his body, fit into the club the way he has and play consistent football for the most part of the year – it is a credit to him.”