Lions skipper to miss run to finals through injury
Joanna Guelas |
Brisbane superstar Lachie Neale will not feature again before the finals after suffering a quad injury.
But the Lions are confident co-captain Neale will be on target to return for the first week of the finals.
The dual Brownlow medallist was experiencing soreness following Brisbane’s 27-point win over Collingwood before scans revealed a tear in his quad.
Neale will miss Saturday’s clash against 10th-placed Sydney at the Gabba and matches against top-eight sides Fremantle (Optus) and Hawthorn (Gabba).
Brisbane have also lost defender Ryan Lester (concussion), with Tom Doedee shaping as a potential choice to replace the veteran.
Arriving from Adelaide in 2023, Doedee has not made his debut for the Lions after suffering setbacks while rehabilitating from a knee reconstruction.
Elsewhere, Nick Larkey is in doubt for North Melbourne’s away clash against GWS after re-injuring his right knee.
On return from a PCL injury, the star forward aggravated his knee after landing heavily from an aerial contest in North’s nine-point defeat to St Kilda.
North captain Jy Simpkin is also experiencing inflammation of a tendon behind a knee but is listed as a test alongside first-year player Zac Banch (rib).
GWS have lost youngster Toby McMullin to a season-ending ankle injury, while lethal goalkicker Jesse Hogan continues to manage foot soreness.
Midfielder McMullin has undergone surgery for a syndesmosis injury he suffered in the Giants’ horror defeat to the Western Bulldogs.
St Kilda key forward Mitch Owens won’t appear again this season after straining his hamstring, while Melbourne defender Jake Lever also seems unlikely to return after an ankle injury.
Sydney expect to regain forward duo Hayden McLean (concussion) and Will Hayward (calf) against Brisbane.
Cam Guthrie (calf) could finally make his first appearance this season after being listed as a test by Geelong, with Mitch Duncan (shoulder) and Jake Kolodjashnij (groin) also a chance.
AAP
