There's no harder away assignment to start an AFL season than the West Coast in Perth - but the sight of young gun Josh Schache mobbed by teammates after opening his account for the Brisbane Lions leads plenty of positives out of the fighting 64-point loss.

For large chunks of the game - especially in the first and third terms - the Lions played with system and with endeavour. Rapid handballs, quick transition, clean hands produced goals and classy entries into the forward 50. 

The "run-and-gun" promoted by the Lions' brains trust was there for all to see - a third-term Daniel Rich goal on the run from 50m after being released by a surging Pearce Hanley was a case in point. 

Then there was draftee Schache kicking his first premiership goal, then nailing another from 50m out after standing his ground to take a strong mark under heavy pressure from hard man Jeremy McGovern.

Geelong recruit Josh Walker also kicked two goals in his first game for the Lions and showed why he will be so valuable with his physical presence and positioning across the forward line, even if his hands were a bit rusty at times.

Defensive pressure was also good for lengthy periods, in particularly reading and targeting the next receiver in the opposition's possession chain. Eagles' turnovers were punished, with goals kicked from the subsequent offensive transition. 

Again, the importance of having Rich and Hanley fit-and-firing was obvious. They make the Lions a different side. When they had the ball, the Lions looked threatening - they either kicked goals or set them up. Rich finished with 23 possessions, 11 tackles and 2 goals.

Mitch Robinson (23 possessions, 4 tackles) and Tom Rockliff (21 possessions, 8 tackles, 2 goals) were tireless, while Allen Christensen was influential kicking three and setting up just as many despite no preseason games like Rockliff, and Lewy Taylor buzzed around for plenty of touches and three goals.

Ryan Bastinac (23 possessions, 4 tackles) and Tom Bell (24 touches, 5 tackles) showed plenty in their first premiership games for the Lions too.

But there were some issues that will be a work-in-progress throughout 2016. Basic errors either gifted the Eagles goals or saw them escape the defensive press to stroll into goal unchallenged.

The washed-out NAB Challenge game in Mackay also came home to roost as the Lions faded away in the back half of the final term after putting up brave resistance for much of the contest.

And to say the Lions missed Daniel Merrett, a late withdrawal with gastro, is an understatement. Josh Kennedy's eight goals, 16 marks and 25 disposals against an undermanned defence was telling.

After keeping touch with the Eagles to trail by just 14 at quarter time - a Schache goal right on quarter time seeing the entire team get around the teenager - the Lions let things slip in the second term.

Matt Priddis got off the leash and dominated proceedings, clocking up 28 disposals, 17 contested, and 9 clearances to halftime as the Eagles extended to a 39-point lead at the main break as the Lions struggled to get their hands on the ball.

By full time, contested possession was down 160-128 but the bigger issue was uncontested possession where the West Coast dominated 288-198, while hit outs finished 61-28 and marks 121-56.

But a 14-point deficit in the opening term, 11-point deficit in the third, and 14-point deficit in the final quarter from an undermanned Lions outfit against a humming Eagles outfit at home is an indicator that this is a different Brisbane in 2016.

Kicking 102 points shouldn't go unnoticed either. Rich, Christensen, Schache, Walker, Taylor, Hanley, Rockliff all showed plenty in a team that has struggled to get near three figures in recent years.

And with Dayne Zorko, Merrett and Josh Green all available and forming the cavalry for next week's Gabba opener against North Melbourne, there's plenty of reasons to think things are changing for the better.

Lions Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch was happy with his team's approach but wants an improvement in turnovers.

"I thought our style of play was much better," said Leppitsch.

"We actually won scores from stoppages well but the difference in the score was from turnovers.

"We shot ourselves in the foot a little bit but at least we are playing with a bit of flair and we'll continue that."

WEST COAST             7.4   13.7   19.9   26.10  (166)                  
BRISBANE LIONS      5.2    7.4    11.7   15.12  (102)          

GOALS
West Coast: Kennedy 8, Cripps 3, Hill 3, Darling 2, Bennell 2, Naitanui 2, LeCras 2, McGovern, Redden, Yeo, Ellis
Brisbane Lions: Taylor 3, Christensen 3, Schache 2, Rockliff 2, Walker 2, Rich 2, Hanley 

BEST 
West Coast: Kennedy, Priddis, Naitanui, Bennell, Shuey, Gaff
Brisbane Lions: Bell, Taylor, Rich, Christensen, Robinson, Bastinac 

INJURIES 
West Coast: Nil
Brisbane Lions: Merrett (illness) replaced in selection side by Beams, Robinson (calf)

Reports: Mitch Robinson (Brisbane Lions) reported for rough conduct on Xavier Ellis (West Coast) in the second quarter

Umpires: Fisher, Stephens, Pannell

Official crowd: 35,201 at Domain Stadium

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