After earning a week off before turning out for their latest preliminary final on home turf, Brisbane could soon earn a further boost to their premiership odds, with a veteran forward continuing to make strides towards a September return.
Despite injuring his MCL during the Lions' narrow Round 22 win over his old side, Adelaide, Jack Gunston has ticked multiple boxes, including completing full training duties on Tuesday.
Gunston was brought to Brisbane over the off-season in an effort to take the Lions from perennial contenders to premiers, and as announced by the club's High-Performance Manager Damian Austin, the Sunshine Stateside remains hopeful that the 31-year-old will return by week three of the finals.
Across the course of his 15 finals, the former Crow and Hawk has proven potent in September, slotting 35 goals, as well as racking up a greater disposal rate than seen during the home and away season - up to 15.93 from 14.56.
Though Brisbane will likely take some match simulation this weekend ahead of week three's preliminary date against either Carlton or Melbourne, one name that will not be present will be that of Lion cub Kai Lohmann after the 20-year-old broke his collarbone during Brisbane's VFL finals win over Williamstown at the weekend.
While Lohmann will be looking to return to the track in around four weeks, Austin contended that the country Victorian's season is over.
Lohmann will now miss Brisbane's VFL preliminary final against Werribee at Avalon Airport Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The victor will progress to face either Gold Coast or Box Hill in the 2023 VFL Grand Final, which will be played on Sunday, September 24.
