Harris Andrews Suspension Leaves Lions Without Key Defender for Three Games
Brisbane will be missing co-captain harris andrews for three weeks, forcing an immediate defensive reshuffle and weakening the side ahead of next Saturday night’s trip to Sydney. Sunday at 10: 00 a. m. ET — Andrews was suspended for high contact that knocked out Bulldog Arty Jones in Saturday night’s five-point loss to the Western Bulldogs.
Harris Andrews’ three-week ban removes a leader and alters selection through next month
Andrews was suspended for three matches after the incident that left Arty Jones concussed; the Match Review assessment deemed the act careless conduct with high contact and severe impact. The ban means Andrews will miss the upcoming match against Sydney and the subsequent fixtures named for the suspension period, stripping Brisbane of a three-time All-Australian selection during a critical opening-round stretch.
Chris Fagan faces selection headaches as Hugh McCluggage’s calf is scanned and Sam Draper nears inclusion
Coach Chris Fagan said Hugh McCluggage will be scanned tomorrow (Sunday) after the midfielder lasted less than a quarter with a left calf issue; McCluggage had earlier corked the same calf in a pre-season match. Sam Draper, an off-season recruit who has recovered from a bone stress injury and battled recent foot soreness, is a potential inclusion as Brisbane seeks to patch holes in defence and the ruck department.
Zac Bailey and Darcy Gardiner one-game bans deepen Lions’ immediate absences
Two other Brisbane players received sanctions from incidents in the same match: Zac Bailey was cited for an elbow that drew a one-game ban for high contact and intentional conduct, and Darcy Gardiner received a one-game ban after a high arm incident that conceded a 50-metre penalty. Those bans add to the short-term availability gap created by Andrews’ suspension as the squad prepares for a high-stakes matchup next Saturday night.
Still, Brisbane held statistical advantages in the match despite the loss, with the coach noting wins in territory, contested possession and a five-clearance margin; the team also recorded 13 more inside 50s. Yet the disciplinary outcomes — a three-week suspension for harris andrews and one-game bans for Bailey and Gardiner — change the club’s immediate planning and rotation for the coming fixtures.
Next confirmed event: Brisbane’s match against Sydney next Saturday night (ET). If Hugh McCluggage’s scan clears him by then, Brisbane could retain some midfield continuity; if the scan rules him out, Sam Draper is likely to be considered for selection ahead of that game.
