Experienced midfielder Allen Christensen will miss the remainder of the season after suffering another shoulder setback.
Christensen, a leadership group member for the first time this year, played his comeback game on the weekend in NEAFL after seven weeks recovering from fracturing his collarbone for a second time.
The premiership midfielder racked up 24 possessions and a goal, as well as laying a game-high 10 tackles in the win over Southport, but pulled up sore and was sent for scans.
The scans revealed the bone was intact, but a crack had developed in the surgical steel plate that had been implanted to strengthen the collarbone.
Immediate surgery has been ruled out given the large amount of surgical work done to the collarbone since it was first broken in Round 11 last season against Carlton at Etihad Stadium.
Christensen and Club medical staff are consulting with specialists to map out the next steps.
Brisbane Lions Football General Manager David Noble said the whole Club felt for Christensen, whose commitment to his injury rehab had been outstanding.
"Allen has worked really hard to get back into excellent shape not once, but twice, over the past 12 months, and we are all incredibly disappointed for him,” said Noble.
“This is a very unusual problem, certainly one that we have never seen before, and we are frustrated that it’s happened, so we will seek some clarity around how it could occur.
“Our overriding concern is for Allen’s wellbeing, and we all agree it’s best to take a conservative approach to ensuring he gets back to full fitness.
“We are providing him all the support he needs and Allen has already spoken about channelling his efforts for the rest of the season into continuing to develop the fantastic leadership he has shown in past months.
Lions Health Centre: Injury List
Christensen, 25, has played 98 AFL games since making his debut for Geelong in 2011, when he went on to play a pivotal role in the club's Grand Final win over Collingwood that season.
He departed Geelong at the end of 2014 and has played 33 games for the Lions.