The pang of Brisbane's fading loss to Carlton on the Friday night of Opening Round has been compounded, with the Lions suspecting the season of intercepting defender Keidean Coleman has already come to a close.
At their Gabba fortress, the Lions led Carlton by as many as 46 points before being booted from the driver's seat in the second half as the Blues steered themselves to a one-point win late in the piece.
While a full review will provide Brisbane head coach Chris Fagan with several turning points, the bespectacled Tasmanian's cause was not helped by Coleman limping off on the stroke of half-time.
Coleman was caught in an awkward standing tackle before the main break, eventually hyperextending his knee as he was brought to ground.
While hearts were in mouth as the 23-year-old was prostrate on the Gabba deck, Fagan could not allay these early fears, instead confirming a worst case scenario for the Lions' premiership hopes.
โAt this stage, it looks like an ACL,โ Fagan said post-game.
โWe haven't had much luck with ACLs when you think of Hipwood, Rayner, โAshy' (Ashcroft) last year and now โKiddy' (Coleman) tonight.
โThat's not confirmed, but more than likely that's what we think.โ
โWe get disappointed for all the lads who get those sorts of injuries because we know the road back is a long road back.
โIt'll create an opportunity for somebody else, which will be their good fortune. But a this point in time if it goes the way we think, we're sad for โKiddy'.โ
Brisbane will earn the opportunity to atone for their second-half sins when they travel to face Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Sunday, March 17.
