The Brisbane Lions are expected to benefit from the timing of the bye, with up to three players set to return from injury next week.
In-form defender Jack Payne and Noah Answerth are both set to overcome concussion protocol to be available for the Lions’ Round 13 clash with Hawthorn at the MCG.
The pair are already back running and will join in training next week, in a bid to put their hand up for selection.
Cal Ah Chee is the third Lion due to return from injury after sitting out on the weekend with the Club taking a precautionary approach with his quad soreness.
The Lions trained on Tuesday and will again on Wednesday before the players enjoy a well-earned midseason break before resuming training on Monday.
“It’s just nice to have the bye and be able to give the players a break, particularly mentally,” said Damien Austin, Lions Head of High Performance.
“Then we can come back to attack the second half of the season, because there’s a lot of football still to be played.”
The Lions have just three other players on their injury list with Shadeau Brain (shoulder), Carter Michael (quad) and Rhys Mathieson (hamstring) unavailable.
Brain is back running and participating in skills work while trying to strengthen his shoulder, eyeing off a return in the next two to three weeks.
Michael is closing in on playing his first game of the year within the next three weeks, while ball-magnet Mathieson is still facing five to six weeks on the sidelines.
The Club is happy with the health of its list at the halfway mark of the season, according to Austin who praised the Lions performance & medical team.
“We’ve come this far this season and we are not in too bad of shape,” he said.
“We had a lot of work to do over the off-season with quite a few operations coming into the start of pre-season.
“So, to get through the first half of the season is a lot of management, but the players are in pretty good shape and hopefully we can hold onto that and keep our availability high to roll through the rest of the season.”
Injury List
Jack Payne (delayed concussion test)
Noah Answerth (concussion test)
Shadeau Brain (shoulder 2-3 weeks)
Carter Michael (quad 2-3 weeks)
Rhys Mathieson (hamstring 5-6 weeks)
