The Brisbane Lions are in damage control after losing more players to injuries from last week’s loss against the Fremantle Dockers.

The team will face Geelong at the Gabba on Saturday with – or without – its star players.

Siobhan Hegarty reports.

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TRANSCRIPT

It was the Dockers first win at the Gabba in 15 years and a painful loss for the Lions.

Already down two defenders and a ruckman the team lost half-forward Josh Drummond and midfielder Jared Brennan to serious injuries in the third quarter.

Damage to Drummond’s knee could put him out of action for up to a year.

Better news for Brennan whose injured ankle should recover in four to six weeks.

The coach says the team’s injuries aren’t an excuse for the loss.

Michael Voss, Lions Coach: “We haven’t been able to execute ah you know the things that we want to do in defence and you know as part of that the opposition sides have pulled us apart.”

He says the Lions will need to tackle the Geelong team ethos instead of focusing on individual players.

The Lions coach is putting a positive spin on their injury woes, saying the pressure’s off the team after losing three matches in a row.

Michael Voss, Lions Coach: “As competitors, as a competitive football team these are the weeks that uh you find out something about our group and um we get that chance, so I’m looking forward to the week.”

And in league, the Broncos are building up for their clash against the Gold Coast Titans this Friday.

The team thrashed Melbourne Storm 36 to 14 over the weekend.

Ivan Henjak, Broncos Coach: “That was a good result for us in terms of the context of our season so far. It was important for us.”

The Titans are currently sitting at equal top spot with St George Illawarra on the NRL premiership table.

But their coach says players need to improve their performance if the team is to stay the competition.

John Cartwright, Titans Coach: “I think the competition showed that you just, you can’t turn up, uh, and play with the same intensity week in week out.”

Siobhan Hegarty, QUT News