Brisbane Lions midfielder Tom Bell will have surgery on his knee, with the Club conceding the 25-year-old will not play again this season.
Bell will have surgery on Tuesday to repair a medial meniscus tear and is likely to remain on the sidelines for at least eight weeks.
“It’s disappointing to lose Tom,” said Brisbane Lions Football Manager Matthew Francis.
“While it will take more time in the short term, it is a better result for the health of his knee in the longer term."
Bell missed Saturday’s loss to the West Coast Eagles – his first match since returning home to Queensland at the end of 2015 after four seasons at Carlton.
“He’s such a fierce competitor in the forward half for us. He’ll be a big loss,” said Francis.
In a further blow, this time to the Lions’ defence, scans have confirmed backman Ryan Harwood has strained his posterior cruciate ligament. He will wear a brace for six weeks as he recovers and is expected to miss at least eight weeks of football.
“Ryan has been critical to our defence this season and has shown great leadership with the young guys down back, so it is of course a bad result to lose him for eight weeks."
Tom Cutler (hamstring) and Nick Roberson (knee) had scans today.
Cutler's scan showed minor hamstring damage, sustained during Saturday's loss to the Eagles, and the 21-year-old is expected to miss this weekend's clash with Richmond.
Robertson copped a heavy knock to the knee in the Reserves’ one-point win over Redland. Lions Medical Staff are awaiting results from scans to determine the extent of the injury.
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