Scans yesterday have confirmed that Lions defender Matt Maguire has suffered soft tissue damage to his elbow.

Maguire sustained the injury during a marking contest in the first quarter of the Lions’ Round 13 match against the Western Bulldogs.

He is expected to miss four weeks.

Lions' General Manager of Football Operations Dean Warren said that Maguire would prove a huge loss for the Club.

"At this stage it looks like being anywhere between four to six weeks for Goose (Maguire) and there's no doubt he will be sorely missed," Warren told The Courier Mail.

"He's been playing some very good footy for us this season after having a full pre-season. He's been playing on the opposition's best tall forward and has been doing a very good job."

With regular full-back Daniel Merrett moving forward in 2012, Maguire has been entrusted with the key role of matching up against the most dangerous opposition forward most weeks, and would be among the Lions' most consistent performers so far this season.