Lions Merrett, Patfull to miss a month

INJURIES have continued to haunt the Brisbane Lions, with defenders Daniel Merrett and Joel Patfull both sidelined for at least a month.

Merrett is expected to miss up to four matches after scans on Monday night revealed ligament damage to the right ankle he injured in the first quarter of Saturday’s win over Adelaide.

Patfull broke his jaw in the same game and has undergone surgery. He is set to miss four to five weeks.

The injuries are a major blow as the two were the logical match-ups for in-form St Kilda forwards Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke this week.

Midfielder Troy Selwood has also been ruled out of the clash with St Kilda after the club’s medical staff ruled that he had still not recovered from his sickening head collision with Richmond’s Alex Rance two weeks ago.