A MOUNTING injury list is starting to take its toll on the Brisbane Lions, with young defender Marco Paparone saying they need some senior bodies back to settle things down.
To an already long list of absentees, the Lions added captain Tom Rockliff (ribs), Jed Adcock (calf), Claye Beams (knee) and Ryan Harwood (concussion) from Sunday's 22-point loss against St Kilda.
Darcy Gardiner (calf) was a late withdrawal.
There are now arguably 10 of the Lions' best 22 unavailable, including Pearce Hanley, Daniel Merrett and Jack Redden.
Paparone, who has improved markedly in 2015 since being swung into defence, said the Lions needed some better luck soon.
"Hopefully it does turn because we need all our key players back, and that will improve the team and get confidence within the team," he said on Monday morning.
"We're very young still. We need to get our good players back to settle things down."
Following the loss to the Saints it was revealed Rockliff played all but the first 10 minutes of the match with broken ribs.
They were the same three ribs he broke in round one against Collingwood.
"He put a brave face on. He's a tough bugger," Paparone said.
"I didn't even know he did it and he played the whole game out. I guess the doctors will look at that and assess if he can play this week, but fingers crossed."
Adcock and Gardiner are almost certain to miss against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday, while Beams did not even get in the South Bank water at Monday's recovery session.
Paparone said despite the injuries, there was no excuse for poor performances.
"We just have to adjust each week," he said.
"We all know the game-plan and what we need to do in each position so we just need to go out there and play our roles."
