Brisbane Lions forward Dan McStay sidelined for three to four weeks with an ankle injury

The Brisbane Lions have lost another forward, with Dan McStay joining Joe Daniher on the sidelines.

Dan McStay is out for at least three weeks with an ankle injury. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Brisbane’s forward stocks have taken another hit, with Dan McStay to be sidelined for up to four weeks with an ankle injury.

McStay, who suffered the injury in the first quarter of the Lions’ 75-point weekend thrashing of West Coast at the Gabba, joins key Brisbane forward Joe Daniher (shoulder) on the sidelines.

“We had a scan, obviously he’s got a bit of ankle damage there which is an ankle sprain, so we’ll give him about three weeks,” Lions high performance manager Damian Austin said.

“We’ll hopefully get him up and moving by the end of the week.”

The good news for Brisbane was that 26-year-old, McStay, similar to Daniher, avoided the need for surgery.

Medical staff work on Dan McStay’s injured ankle. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Daniher, who suffered his injury in the Lions’ 24-point win over Sydney on May 1, is expected to be sidelined for another three to five weeks.

“Joe’s going well,” Austin said.

“We’ve got him running and have upped his running loads and he’s just spending time in the gym rehabbing that shoulder.”

With both McStay and Daniher sidelined, Lions coach Chris Fagan may opt call fit-again forward Eric Hipwood into Brisbane’s in-form team for Saturday night’s clash against the Crows at Adelaide Oval.

Fagan said Hipwood was available for selection after recovering from torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered 10 months ago.

“If they’re really high-quality players you don’t necessarily have to bring them back through the reserves,” Fagan said.