Brisbane Lions forward Kai Lohmann has avoided a major injury setback after being forced out of Saturday’s match against Sydney, with scans confirming he is expected to miss only one AFL game.
The 21-year-old was taken off in the first quarter at the SCG after twisting his ankle in a tackle, raising concerns about a potentially lengthy stint on the sidelines. His absence was a blow to Brisbane, who were already without star forward Charlie Cameron, sidelined due to calf tightness. Additionally, key defender Brandon Starcevich suffered his third concussion in eight months during the match, adding to the team’s injury concerns.
Further complicating matters, Lincoln McCarthy, another small forward, suffered a devastating ACL rupture while attempting a return from the same injury that had sidelined him for almost the entire previous season. However, Brisbane received some much-needed relief when scans confirmed Lohmann’s injury was not severe enough to require surgery. The young forward is now expected to miss just one or two games.
The Lions are set to host the West Coast Eagles at the Gabba on Sunday in what will be their first home game since winning last season’s premiership. Their opening-round fixture against Geelong had been postponed until Round 3 due to Cyclone Alfred, making this a highly anticipated return to their home ground.
Meanwhile, the Eagles are coming off a brutal 87-point loss to the Gold Coast Suns—the largest victory margin in the Suns’ history since joining the AFL in 2011. With Brisbane looking to maintain momentum despite their injury setbacks, they will aim to capitalize on a struggling West Coast side in front of their home crowd.