Lions premiership defence on the brink with key duo set to miss rest of the season

[ad_1] The banged-up Brisbane Lions will likely be with out vital ahead Eric Hipwood, and sure star midfielder Lachie Neale, for the remainder of their premiership defence.

Twin Brownlow medallist Neale injured his proper calf within the 16.16 (112) to 11.8 (74) qualifying closing defeat to Geelong on the MCG on Friday night time.

It was Neale's first sport in additional than a month, having been sidelined for the final three video games of the home-and-away season as a consequence of a quad criticism.

Neale will be a part of premiership defenders Jack Payne (knee) and Noah Answerth (achilles) on the sidelines.

Hipwood did not play towards Geelong as a consequence of a calf harm, however a scan has additionally revealed a partial tear in his left ACL.

The 27-year-old could have surgical procedure in coming days in a bid to have him accessible in the course of the 2026 season.

Hipwood, extremely, might have been taking part in with the harm for months.

"Having Eric miss the finals collection by way of harm is absolutely devastating for him and his household and for us as a membership," Lions soccer boss Danny Daly mentioned.

"It is an unimaginable effort by Eric to have been taking part in every week with this harm and nonetheless giving his all to the staff regardless."

On Friday night time, Lions coach Chris Fagan admitted he was "not anticipating nice information" from Neale's scans on Saturday after returning to Brisbane.

"Seems to be like he is achieved a calf, in order that's not a great factor," Fagan mentioned.

"He is a fairly robust type of man, can often play by way of these, however he could not.

Neale harm makes Lions loss worse Brisbane's premiership defence is on shaky floor after shedding star midfielder Lachie Neale to a probable season-ending harm of their qualifying closing defeat.

"It takes quite a bit for him to come back off, so I might suspect it is one thing important."

Neale nonetheless gathered 32 disposals towards the Cats, however had restricted affect on the sport as he was a part of a Lions midfield that was badly overwhelmed.

Brisbane overcame main adversity final yr, successful all 4 finals en path to their first flag in 21 years.

However it is going to take one thing equally as particular for them to repeat.

Fagan admitted he hadn't thought of if they might go all the best way with out Neale.

"I am simply anxious about making an attempt to win a sport subsequent week," he mentioned.

"He is an amazing participant so clearly he helps, and we have fairly just a few different guys who're injured in the mean time and never taking part in, so whether or not that provides as much as too many accidents and makes it troublesome.

"However give a variety of credit score to Geelong … they had been magnificent."

Brisbane's lacklustre efficiency towards the Cats confirmed they're lacking the star energy up ahead of Joe Daniher, who retired after final yr's grand closing win.

"There will not be an overreaction," Fagan mentioned.

"We'll simply do what we at all times do — take a look on the imaginative and prescient and discover out the place we made errors, and the way we will enhance.

ABC Sport Every day podcast ABC Sport Every day is your each day sports activities dialog. We dive into the most important story of the day and get you up to the mark with every little thing else that is making headlines.

"For subsequent week, it will simply be so simple as that.

"I've received a variety of religion on this group.

"We are able to make a drama out of it, however they have been within the final seven closing collection and achieved some fairly good work in that point.

"It isn't at all times going to be a mattress of roses.

"From time to time you are going to meet an opponent, like we did, who had been red-hot.

"We'll simply keep calm and do what we at all times do."

If the Lions are in a position to keep away from going out in straight units and win by way of to a preliminary closing, they'd face Collingwood on the MCG.