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Veteran favorite Darcy Gardiner has suffered a serious knee injury in a devastating string of injuries for Brisbane fell to a new low before the Lions held on for a gutsy 34-point win Gold Coast on Sunday night.
Their problems began before the bounce when Brandon Starcevic was ruled out with a calf problem picked up during the warm-up at the Gabba.
Watch video above: Devastating blow lowers Lions injury carnage to new low.
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That setback landed Logan Morris in a substitute role for his AFL debut – having already played a full game in the VFL earlier in the day.
But instead of being held back for a cameo role at the end, he was called into the game almost immediately when Lincoln McCarthy went down with a knee injury.
Brisbane then went down to three on the bench when Noah Unsworth suffered a knee-to-head concussion in a marking contest.
Less than 30 minutes later, the Lions lost another as Gardiner collapsed in a heap when his right knee gave out on the wing.
He was in obvious agony and the cameras briefly cut the scene.
“The pictures are quite graphic, so graphic that we don’t show them to you. He’s in a lot of pain,” Dwayne Russell said on Fox Sports.
Gardiner limped off with the help of two club medical officers.
He recorded his seventh appearance of the season, three more than he had all of last year, when the injured defender was called up for the preliminary final and retained his place in the grand final.
McCarthy and Gardiner have had their fair share of injury problems, although the former’s move to Brisbane has done wonders for his health.
McCarthy played just 29 games for Geelong between 2012 and 2018 – with 19 coming in 2016 alone – but has been a regular for the Lions since moving north.
If McCarthy and Gardiner both suffer ACL tears, Brisbane’s tally will rise to four for the year after losing Caidian Coleman and Tom Doody in March.
Will Ashcroft is still on track to return from a torn ACL suffered in Round 19 last year.
On Sunday night, the Lions overcame injury blows to lead 8.8 (56) to 2.4 (16) at half-time and hold on for a 10.19 (79) to 6.9 (45) victory over the disappointing Suns .
“Coming into the game we weren’t in the best shape and to lose four players (to injury) all night … the guys really dug deep tonight was an amazing effort,” said Dane Zorko, who won the Marcus Ashcroft Medal for the most well on the ground.
“We wanted to do it for the guys who were on the sidelines. Those guys came down and really supported us while they were on the bench, which was great.
“Our brotherhood was sensational and that’s something we can really hang our hat on tonight.”
Morris, Brisbane’s second debutant of the night after Bruce Revill, kicked behind early but marked his big event with a goal late in the second round.
“He was probably tough not to play this week, but it was great to see him kick a goal,” Josh Dunkley said.
“He brought a lot of energy to our band, as did Brucey Revill. Both have shown a very, very exciting future for our club.”
Brownlow medalist Lachie Neal led the way along with Zorko with 24 disposals each by half-time.
But Neale’s seven tackles set the tone after the Lions were well beaten by the GWS Giants last week.
“It was about time,” Neal said of Brisbane’s rising energy levels.
“Last week was horrendous, especially as a group in midfield. We got a lesson (from GWS) such a good response but it’s only half time and we’ve been in that position a few times already.”
The Lions’ bench was reduced to zero fit players late in the third quarter when Revill and Charlie Cameron spent time out with injuries, although both returned for the start of the final season.
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