The Brisbane Lions appear likely to lose two of their co-captains after a shock AFL loss to the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night. Hugh McCluggage went down with an injured calf, while Harris Andrews is one of three players facing a nervous wait to see if they cop suspensions.
The Lions led by 26 points late in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs surged back to shock the reigning premiers and win 16.15 (111) to 15.16 (106). To make matters worse for Brisbane, they could be without key personnel for a number of weeks.
McCluggage – who was recently appointed co-captain – limped off early in the game with a calf complaint and will go for scans. Initial fears are he’s facing a multi-week stint on the sidelines.
Hugh McCluggage was injured, while Harris Andrews is in hot water. Image: AAP
As for Andrews, he’s also likely facing a multi-week ‘holiday’ after clocking Arthur Jones in the face in an incident that left the Bulldogs player heavily concussed. Andrews threw out his arm in an apparent attempt to block Jones off the ball, but whacked him straight in the face.
“He was aware that [Jones] was there. I think that’s one of the things that you’ve got to consider,” Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy. “If you’re going to throw that (arm) back like that, you run the risk of going through the matrix, which I’m certain it will.
“I’m sure it’s not intentional, but Harris looked around, identified where Artie was, and thrown his arm back to put a block on. He is in some trouble, I would have thought, (since) Artie Jones went out of the game with a concussion, and it is high contact. So, I think he’s got a few worries there.”
Jay Clark, David King and Jack Riewoldt all suggested Andrews is facing a couple of weeks. “The way the MRO has treated these is concussion is severe impact, so that’s a three-match holiday. I think it’ll be careless and severe,” Clark said.
“With the new MRO rules you can downgrade it by one or two, but I think that’s at least two matches for Harris Andrews. That is a careless act. You owe the opposition a duty of care, and in that instance, he didn’t show it.”
Hugh McCluggage limped off with a calf injury early in Brisbane’s loss to the Bulldogs. Image: Getty
(AFL Photos via Getty Images)Brisbane Lions could lose three players to suspensions
Zac Bailey and Darcy Gardiner could also come under scrutiny in what would be a disastrous blow for the Lions. Bailey elbowed Michael Sellwood in the head after a tackle over the boundary line, while Gardiner collected Aaron Naughton in the head with his forearm and gave away a 50-metre penalty.
While Gardiner might be ok, Clarke said the Bailey incident “could be a one-match suspension.” Clark said: “This would be an intentional act. He’s over the boundary line, swings with that elbow. That’s an intentional elbow to Michael Sellwood’s head.”
Arthur Jones was ruled out with concussion after Harris Andrews’ hit.
(Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)