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Lions roar gets Eagles' eye

By Mr Dandalooa

There is less than 8 weeks before the long-awaited start of the AFL season and there is already much talk around two football powerhouses, Jonathan Brown and Brendan Fevola.

So much so, the connection of the two unlikely teammates has already caught the attention of the West Coast Eagles.

FootyGoss understands that Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss is pleasantly surprised by the chemistry Brown and former Carlton bad boy Fevola have struck during the preseason, with the forwards seemingly gelling in a seamless training session last week.

Eagles assistant coach Peter Sumich has purportedly handballed the challenge to defend the potentially devastating duo to Darren Glass this season, but has suggested West Coast is looking at all options to stop the two amassing too many goals this season.

This year the Eagles have run their training sessions in secrecy, but are said to be keeping close tabs on Brisbane and their progress now that Fev is in the fold.

And with ABC reports that Voss is happy with the rapport Fev and Brown have made, it could be the foundation for a colossal battle this season.

On the ABC’s website, Voss said it was “good to be able to see both of them being able to compete against one another” and have a great understanding of one another on the field.

Both Voss and Sumich reckon the two could kick in excess of 150 goals this season.

“(But) the big challenge for us is not necessarily whether they can kick the goals, but whether we give them the opportunities,” Voss was reported as saying.

Sumich has hinted that Mitch Brown and Matt Spangher could be asked to step up to the challenge.

The Eagles have said Dean Cox would start in the NAB Cup opener against Essendon on February 12, while Fevola is a “strong chance” for the Lions’ opener against the Western Bulldogs in Canberra on February 14.