Matt Maguire bump outs key Lion for six weeks

BRISBANE has suffered a major body blow, with defender Matt Maguire set to be sidelined for up to six weeks with an elbow injury.

Matt Maguire

BRISBANE has suffered a major body blow, with defender Matt Maguire set to be sidelined for up to six weeks with an elbow injury.

Scans have revealed that Maguire sustained "substantial soft tissue" damage in a marking contest in the first quarter of last weekend's 58-point win over the Western Bulldogs.

X-rays after the match showed the former St Kilda full-back had not suffered a break, but the elbow joint was very swollen and extremely sore.

The club had hoped Maguire would be available for Sunday's clash with Melbourne at the Gabba, but MRI scans delivered the bad news late yesterday.

Brisbane general manager of football operations Dean Warren said the loss of Maguire was significant.

"At this stage it looks like being anywhere between four to six weeks for Goose (Maguire) and there's no doubt he will be sorely missed," Warren said.

"He's been playing some very good footy for us this season after having a full pre-season. He's been playing on the opposition's best tall forward and has been doing a very good job."

Brisbane may be forced to rethink its ploy of playing regular defender and vice-captain Daniel Merrett in the forward line with Maguire unavailable for an extended period.

Irishman Niall McKeever did a fine job in a key defensive post when Maguire left the field last weekend and could be entrusted with the role.

The impact of Maguire's injury will be softened this week with Melbourne spearhead and former Lion Mitch Clark sidelined for the rest of the year with a foot injury.

But Brisbane will cross paths with the likes of St Kilda's Nick Riewoldt, Richmond's Jack Riewoldt and the tall timber of West Coast's forward line in coming games where Maguire would have been invaluable.

Lions vice-captain Josh Drummond said Maguire had been ''terrific'' in 2012 but was confident Brisbane's backline stocks could go a long way towards filling the void.

''It's a big loss for us. A lot of games we've conceded a lot of inside 50s and he's (Maguire) held the fort and been really important for us,'' he said.

''Niall has been very good for us in the last few weeks and he's starting to find his feet at that level. Joel (Patfull) and I have the ability to play tall.''