Brisbane Lions star Josh Dunkley expected to be sidelined with a calf injury

The Brisbane Lions are likely to make at least three changes to their team for Saturday’s battle against AFL cellar dwellers West Coast.

Josh Dunkley is in doubt for Brisbane’s battle with West Coast. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Josh Dunkley is a doubtful starter for Brisbane on Saturday, with the Lions unlikely to gamble on their star recruit’s calf injury in a game against AFL easybeats West Coast Eagles.

Dunkley was substituted at three-quarter time in Brisbane’s 81-point thrashing of Richmond last Thursday night.

While Lions coach Chris Fagan dismissed the injury post-match as nothing more than a “corky”, Dunkley did not train on Tuesday and his calf was heavily strapped.

Should Dunkley not play, the Lions will make at least three changes to them team that beat the Tigers, with forward Linc McCarthy (suspended) and the versatile Callum Ah Chee (concussion) to miss the clash at the Gabba.

“He (Dunkley) has been an extremely important for us so we’re hoping that he can get up but if he doesn’t, Dev Robertson played in the midfield when he (Dunkley) went down in the last quarter and did some really nice things, so we’ve got lots of options playing the VFL and lots of depth,” Lions vice-captain Hugh McCluggage said.

“You don’t want to lose players but hopefully we can cover them. We’ve got guys that are really ready to go in the VFL that’ll be excited to get their chance.”

Josh Dunkley is battling a calf injury. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Former skipper Dayne Zorko, who seems to have recovered from a calf injury, is in line for a recall, while forwards Kai Lohmann and Jack Gunston and experienced duo Jarryd Lyons and Daniel Rich would also be in contention for selection recalls.

A host of other Lions, including forwards Eric Hipwood and Charlie Cameron, midfielder Jarrod Berry and defender Jack Payne, were restricted to light duties at training on Tuesday.

If the third-placed Lions did want an opportunity to rest some players, Saturday’s match against the competition’s worst team – beaten by 171 points less than two weeks ago by Sydney – would seem a good time to do so.

However, McCluggage promised his side would not take a complacent attitude into the contest.

“Nothing changes for us,” he said.

“A lot of our players have been in that position before down the bottom end of the ladder and in 2017 and 2018 when we were coming up against good sides, we saw it as an opportunity to knock them off and a great opportunity to test yourself against the best.

“They’ve got a lot of young players … which is exactly the position we we’re in and you’re young, you’re enthusiastic and you just want to challenge yourself against the best.

“We know that they’re going to bring their best shot. We’re under no illusions that it’s going to be a tough game. Every team at their best in this competition is really hard to play against.”

Originally published as Brisbane Lions star Josh Dunkley expected to be sidelined with a calf injury