AFL injury update: Kai Lohmann cleared of serious ankle injury
Kai Lohmann won’t miss as long as originally feared, but Callum Dick writes his absence will force the Lions into yet another forward reshuffle after reshaping their attack over summer.
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Scans have cleared Kai Lohmann of serious injury with the Brisbane Lions’ small forward expected to miss just 1-2 weeks with an ankle sprain despite initial fears he could be out for more than a month.
Livewire Lohmann was sent for scans on Monday on his left ankle after it was caught awkwardly in a tackle in the opening quarter of Saturday’s four-point win over Sydney at the SCG.
The 21-year-old was subbed out and put in a moon boot before the end of the match and later spotted being pushed in a wheelchair as the Lions played it super safe with their breakout small forward.
Brisbane’s cautious approach paid off with Lohmann now anticipated to miss Sunday’s game against West Coast and perhaps the following Saturday’s rescheduled Opening Round clash with Geelong.
Although it is good news for the long term, his immediate absence will leave a noticeable hole given he played every game last season in the Lions’ run to the premiership.
Veteran Charlie Cameron was a late out for the Swans clash with a calf strain however the club says he will be fit to return for this weekend’s home opener against the Eagles as a like-for-like replacement.
Luckless Lincoln McCarthy will have surgery this week in a bold bid to return before the end of the season after rupturing his ACL for a second time a fortnight ago.
But if the 31-year-old is to be fit for selection in time for finals the Lions will have to first get there without him.
Just two weeks ago the Lions’ only concern was how to replace the retired Joe Daniher as the focal point of the forward 50. Now there are a number of moving pieces to consider.
Ex-Sun Sam Day was set to make his Lions debut against the Swans, filling the ruck-forward role vacated by Daniher, before the death of his father last Thursday.
The club will give him all the time he needs before putting his hand up for selection.
Crucially, the Lions were able to soldier through the disruptions to earn a gutsy win on the road in the grand final rematch and the performances of two players in particular will give reason for optimism.
Levi Ashcroft was set to make his AFL debut as the sub before Cameron’s late out saw him elevated onto the bench and to the surprise of nobody, he flourished.
The 18-year-old amassed 25 disposals and four clearances to further stake his claim for a starting spot – and having shown an eye for goal in his junior career and at VFL level last season, looks to be a plug-and-play mid-forward option from the jump.
As does Zac Bailey, who might have felt on notice to perform given Ashcroft’s arrival and the Lions’ considerable depth at the position before his brilliant four-goal haul against the Swans.
The 25-year-old had previously admitted to struggling for consistency last season after returning from a mid-year ankle injury but hit the ground running in 2025 with his first four-goal haul in almost two years.
The speedster has had a full pre-season to hone his mid-forward craft and if he can get back to his 2021-22 form, in which he kicked 68 goals across two seasons, the Lions will be well-serviced forward of centre.
Meanwhile, last year’s 185cm mid-season rookie draftee Will McLachlan booted four goals in the Lions’ VFL practice match victory over the Suns at the weekend to put his hand up for consideration.
Lions Academy product Ty Gallop – the young star of pre-season – also impressed in a ruck-forward role that could hint at an AFL opportunity in the near future for last year’s No. 42 pick.
Chris Fagan’s mantra of next man up led the Lions to the flag last season and the early diagnosis is the reigning premiers are well-equipped to do so again in 2025.
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Originally published as AFL injury update: Kai Lohmann cleared of serious ankle injury
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