Today's match-up between the Lions and Eagles is a clash of two teams at completely different points in their cycle.

Last weekend against the Blues, the Lions fielded the youngest team of the round with an average age of 23.

Meanwhile, the Eagles fielded the oldest team across the AFL for their loss to Collingwood, with an average age of 26.25.

The Lions are going to need both their experienced and inexperienced players firing to overcome a West Coast home crowd and an Eagles team looking to make a statement after their loss last week.

Fortunately, both our leaders and youngsters have shown form when needed over the last few rounds.

Player stats after our Blues win suggest it was our leaders who stood up. Beams recorded 30 disposals and 3 goals, Zorko had 26 and 3, and Lester had 26 and 1 (2^nd highest disposals of his career). Rockliff also did a great job holding Gibbs to 8 disposals, despite him averaging 27 this year.

The week prior against Richmond it was our youth who carried the team. We may have lost by 31 to the Tigers but it was an improvement on our 54 point loss to them earlier in the season. The improved point differential had even more positives because the Lions did it with older players being not as influential. During our 54 point loss earlier in the season our senior players recorded the most disposals and coaches votes, but in Round 17 Witherden notched up 28 disposals and Taylor 24, whilst Harris Andrews earned 2 Coaches Votes, Dan McStay 2 and Witherden 1.