Clint Frazer, the Brisbane Lions senior physio, says Captain Dayne Beams and vice-captain Tom Rockliff will both recover from shoulder surgeries in time for November’s pre-season.

Beams went into surgery today after injuring the top of his shoulder earlier in the year, while Rockliff will undergo a full shoulder reconstruction in the coming weeks after dislocating it during Round 8’s loss to Hawthorn.

Both played through pain for the remainder of the season. 

“They were in a bit of pain. They made a good recovery and they were playing well with their injuries. That’s part of being an AFL footballer,” Frazer said.

Sam Skinner will also undergo surgery in the coming weeks after rupturing his ACL in a NEAFL match earlier this month.

Frazer says 20-year-old Skinner is resilient and will fight to get on the field again in nine months’ time. 

“Sam’s obviously very familiar with the way the rehab program is here and the expectations there,” Frazer said.

“He’ll be fantastic once he returns. It’s massively disappointing that he hurt his ACL. But the boys got around him and his spirits are high. There’s no reason why he won’t make a full recovery.”

Eric Hipwood was a late exclusion from the Lions’ final round loss on the weekend due to a sore knee, which Frazer says will be right in the coming weeks, while Dayne Zorko’s infected leg is almost back to normal.

Ryan Lester did suffer a head knock in Saturday’s defeat to North Melbourne but has passed all concussion tests this week.

LIONS HEALTH CENTRE: INJURY LIST

In positive news for the Lions’ 2018 preparations, Mitch Robinson, Tom Bell and Allen Christensen are all close to recovering from season-ending injuries.

Robinson suffered a foot fracture in May, while Bell broke and dislocated his ankle in a NEAFL match in June.  

“Tom and Mitch are both back running,” Frazer said.

“They’ll get back into training as soon as we come back from our break.”

While Christensen, who missed the entire season due to an ongoing collarbone injury, is progressing in leaps and bounds.

“Allen Christensen is back in full training. He trained today with the NEAFL boys. He even did some contact work.”

Meanwhile, Frazer says the NEAFL side are fit and firing ahead of their preliminary final against Sydney University this Saturday. All enjoyed the week off they earned after finishing second overall.

“A couple of the boys were carrying some bumps and bruises and particularly a few boys are carrying some long term injuries,” Frazer said.

“The week off has allowed them to freshen up a bit.”