Brown, Drummond named by Lions - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Brown, Drummond named by Lions

05/06/2008 07:27:13 PM Comments (0)

For the first time in three weeks, Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews has been forced to make a change to his senior side.

But injury concerns Jonathan Brown and Josh Drummond have been named for their AFL clash with Fremantle at the Gabba on Sunday.

Matthews had been optimistic about Brown's chances after the co-captain hyperextended his knee in their 31-point win over North Melbourne last weekend.

However, the Lions will know more about Brown's fitness at training on Friday before the 25-strong squad is trimmed to 22.

"When anyone goes down with a knee issue and hobbles off you really don't know what it's all about," Matthews said.

"We're pretty happy it's not too serious. He did something similar against Sydney in the last (pre-season) practice game.

"He was almost stretchered off and was then back running within five or 10 minutes.

"It's now a question of how he pulls up. Sometimes you are able to finish the match and then it's still a bit inflamed after."

Key defender Drummond was also named despite nursing a hamstring injury sustained against the Kangaroos.

However, injury has disrupted Matthews' plans for what will be his 450th VFL/AFL match.

Jason Roe and Ash McGrath - who also went down against North Melbourne - were not considered for the Fremantle game due to hamstring complaints.

James Polkinghorne, Robert Copeland, Cheynee Stiller, Matthew Leuenberger and James Hawksley have all been added to the senior team's 25-man squad.

If selected, WA second year midfielder Hawksley will make his senior debut after being chosen by the Lions with pick No.38 in the 2006 National Draft.

Matthews will become only the eighth person in the game's history to reach the 450-game mark.

Brisbane have strung together three straight wins to move to seventh but the Dockers are battling with just one victory in 10 games following a woeful run of fade-outs.

They have led at three-quarter time in their last five games - and lost them all.

Fremantle are the worst performing team in the fourth quarter this season, winning just one of their 10 final terms in 2008.

But the Lions are the second worst fourth quarter performers, winning just two.

However, Fremantle have never defeated the Lions in Queensland, losing all six clashes with Brisbane at the Gabba since 1997.

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