AFL Now: Lincoln McCarthy pushing for return from knee injury during 2025 season

Lincoln McCarthy is eyeing a remarkable return after surgery on Tuesday gave the Brisbane Lion hope of being part of his club’s quest for back-to-back flags.

Brisbane Lions forward Lincoln McCarthy has not given up hope of being part of his club’s push for back-to-back flags as he eyes a return from his knee reconstruction before the finals series.

McCarthy underwent his knee reconstruction on Tuesday and remains hopeful of a throw-at-the-stumps of an in-season return.

Should his rehab go perfectly, McCarthy could return this year and was willing to take on the risk of future injury to the knee to try and get back in 2025 given the club is right in the flag window and he is uncontracted next season.

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Lincoln McCarthy is making an audacious comeback attempt. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

He missed the back two-thirds of last season after rupturing his ACL in round eight and was forced to watch on as his Lions teammates won the flag.

The goalkicker was on the edge of full fitness earlier this month when he injured his knee playing in a practice match but he didn’t think it was serious and even played some casual basketball on the knee.

It later swelled up but scans were put on hold until after Cyclone Alfred passed through Brisbane and McCarthy still thought it was only a minor issue until the scans showed the small rupture.

It is understood McCarthy was devastated by the blow but was feeling energised after Tuesday’s surgery and planned to attack his rehab aggressively.

The first knee blow came in May last year. Picture: Chris Hyde/AFL Photos

The Lions will wait for a proper assessment to put a timeline on his rehab plans.

An ideal return would be in late August and which would be even quicker than Carlton’s Sam Docherty, who returned for an elimination final against Brisbane just 183 days after his own knee rupture last year.

Docherty and McCarthy are good mates.

McCarthy is well aware he might still struggle to force his way into a Brisbane forward line that has seen Kai Lohmann and Callum Ah Chee explode in McCarthy’s absence.

McCarthy celebrates a goal. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos

Will McLachlan bagged two goals in a small forward role against West Coast and star Charlie Cameron has not yet played this year as the Lions got through to a 2-0 start.

McCarthy endured a nightmare run of injuries at his first club, Geelong, battled constant foot blows.

He had turned a corner in Brisbane until last year’s knee blow.

The Lions have been steadily bringing back a group of players who suffered serious knee injuries last year.

Darcy Gardiner returned to kick three goals in the VFL last weekend, defender Tom Doedee is expected to be back in field within two weeks and Keidean Coleman is building up training loads.

Originally published as AFL Now: Lincoln McCarthy pushing for return from knee injury during 2025 season