TonyK
CibbuanoInjuries threaten to derail Lions
July 13th 2008 02:28
BRISBANE's loss to Essendon at Telstra Dome on Saturday night has been made worse with key duo Jonathan Brown and Simon Black picking up niggling injuries.
Lions coach Leigh Matthews the pair as 'hobbly' during the second half of the match against the Bombers, but was unsure of the full extent of Brown's injury and whether or not it will sideline him at all.
"He (Brown) got a knock on his back," Matthews said.
"He got crunched in a big pack in the second quarter. We are not sure what he has done but he was struggling."
"We will wait and find out (what the full extent of the injury is), but he certainly was very sore."
Meanwhile, promising young ruckman Matthew Leuenberger remains in serious doubt for next weekend's clash against West Coast at the Gabba after damaging cartilage in his knee.
Brisbane has now lost their past two to slump to seventh place on the AFL ladder, effectively ruling them out of a top-four finish. They are also in danger of missing the finals completely, with North Melbourne, Carlton and Essendon all chasing a place in the top eight.
But Matthews said his side needed to stop thinking about where they will finish on the ladder and focus on winning some games.
"It's not out of range (a top-four finish), but it's not realistic," Matthews said
"We've lost a couple of games to teams that probably aren't going to play in the final eight, so I don't know why everyone should be too focused on the top four."
"You've got to try to win some games and if you win enough games you'll play top four."
"But it's not really the issue. The issue is to get a bit more out of more of our players next week."
Lions coach Leigh Matthews the pair as 'hobbly' during the second half of the match against the Bombers, but was unsure of the full extent of Brown's injury and whether or not it will sideline him at all.
"He (Brown) got a knock on his back," Matthews said.
"He got crunched in a big pack in the second quarter. We are not sure what he has done but he was struggling."
"We will wait and find out (what the full extent of the injury is), but he certainly was very sore."
Meanwhile, promising young ruckman Matthew Leuenberger remains in serious doubt for next weekend's clash against West Coast at the Gabba after damaging cartilage in his knee.
Brisbane has now lost their past two to slump to seventh place on the AFL ladder, effectively ruling them out of a top-four finish. They are also in danger of missing the finals completely, with North Melbourne, Carlton and Essendon all chasing a place in the top eight.
But Matthews said his side needed to stop thinking about where they will finish on the ladder and focus on winning some games.
"It's not out of range (a top-four finish), but it's not realistic," Matthews said
"We've lost a couple of games to teams that probably aren't going to play in the final eight, so I don't know why everyone should be too focused on the top four."
"You've got to try to win some games and if you win enough games you'll play top four."
"But it's not really the issue. The issue is to get a bit more out of more of our players next week."
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