Before the beginning of the 2014 season, lions.com.au contributor Carl Nimb compiled a series of articles outlining his ‘Best 22’.

Although the articles were based purely on his own personal opinion, his selections were generally accepted by the community of Lions fans on social media – with only a minor change or two here and there depending on personal preference.

Fast forward to Round 5 and Lions fans can expect to see a markedly different looking line-up this Thursday night against Richmond at the Gabba.

In fact, of Carl Nimb’s ‘Best 22’, only 13 have played in all of the Lions’ matches so far – and we’re not even at the halfway point of the season!

Pearce Hanley, Matthew Leuenberger, Daniel Rich, Brent Staker, Ryan Harwood, and Josh Green have all missed games through injury, while Tom Rockliff and Daniel Merrett have copped bans from the AFL Match Review Panel.

That’s not to mention experienced players such as Ash McGrath, Luke McGuane and Stefan Martin who weren’t part of Nimb’s initial squad, but have also battled with fitness.

Only six of the team’s 20 most experienced players – Jonathan Brown, Brent Moloney, Jed Adcock, Joel Patfull, Jack Redden, Trent West – have featured in every game.

Every AFL side has to deal with injuries, but it’s fair to say the Lions have been handed the unluckiest run of any club so far this season.

And quite simply, the Lions are probably one of a handful of club’s that could least afford to lose such experienced players given their list was among the youngest to begin with.

It’s an unfortunate circumstance, but the Lions won’t be using it as an excuse, and it won’t be affecting new Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch’s ultimate strategy.

Jonathan Brown summed it up best during a media conference ahead of his 250th match.

“We knew we needed luck with injuries to key players and we've had the complete opposite,” Brown said.

“That's the hand we've been dealt. You don't crawl into a hole and put the white flag up.”

Please find below a list of the Lions’ 20 most experienced players, complete with the number of senior matches they’ve played so far in 2014:

1. Jonathan Brown (4)
2. Ashley McGrath (0 – calf injury)
3. Jed Adcock (4)
4. Brent Moloney (4)
5. Joel Patfull (4)
6. Matt Maguire (0 – played in NEAFL)
7. Brent Staker (0 – calf injury)
8. Daniel Merrett (3 – serving a two-match suspension)
9. Andrew Raines (0 – played in NEAFL)
10. Luke McGuane (0 – knee injury)
11. Jack Redden (4)
12. Daniel Rich (3 – knee injury)
13. James Polkinghorne (0 – knee injury and played in NEAFL)
14. Matthew Leuenberger (4 – will miss next 10-12 weeks with a knee injury)
15. Tom Rockliff (3 – suspended in Round 2)
16. Pearce Hanley (4 – will miss next two matches with hamstring injury)
17. Stefan Martin (0 – ankle injury)
18. Trent West (4)
19. Rohan Bewick (2 – played in NEAFL)
20. Ryan Harwood (2 – shoulder injury and played in NEAFL)