A week can be a long time in footy.

Only last Tuesday, an article was posted on lions.com.au boasting that the Brisbane Lions were “in good shape” with just four players unavailable for selection heading into Round One.

It’s just seven days later, and the list has now doubled.

Off-season recruit Luke McGuane, who was originally considered a chance to face Hawthorn, has been put in cotton wool as he battles to recover from a knee complaint.

McGuane is expected to miss a month of football.

James Polkinghorne will also be sidelined for the next 1-2 weeks with a sore knee, while Sam Michael can expect to miss a couple of games after hurting his hamstring during Saturday’s NEAFL practice match against Redland.

But the worst news surrounds third-year utility Patrick Wearden who sustained a significant ankle injury against Redland that will see him sidelined for up to three months.

It’s a cruel blow for Wearden, who missed also a large part of last season with facial injury.

“It’s terrible news for Patty, who hurt his ankle reasonably badly,” Strength and Conditioning Coach Matt Hass told LIONS TV as part of the Bupa Recovery Report.

He’s actually got a scratch on his foot which is holding up the surgery – hopefully it gets done on Thursday. It will be a long rehab process from there – around the 10-12 week mark.”

Meanwhile, a return date for both Brent Staker and Stefan Martin is becoming more uncertain as the key pair struggle with calf and back problems respectively.

Better news for Claye Beams, who seems to have responded well to foot surgery, and is set to return by Round 6 or 7.

“He’s tracking pretty well and is in a good head space,” Hass said.

“He’s in a boot now. He’ll progress walking on the AltiG and then kick-off his running rehab in a few weeks.”

Be sure to visit the Bupa Health Centre for the Lions’ full injury list ahead of Round 2.