AN EXTRAORDINARY injury crisis is behind the poor start to the season of the AFL's Queensland-based teams, according to Brisbane Lions coach Justin Leppitsch.
The Lions are 16th on the ladder after their 30-point loss to Greater Western Sydney, while Gold Coast are last, with the teams managing just three wins between them in 2015.
The two Queensland sides have been plagued by injuries this season, and have struggled to field reserves teams at times, with the Lions having just six AFL-listed players in their NEAFL teams this week.
Leppitsch said any club with such a large injury list – the Lions had 19 players unavailable mid-week – would struggle to keep pace in such an even competition.
Click here for Justin Leppitsch's full media conference
"I think Queensland footy is going through a down period because the two teams up there have been absolutely ravaged by injury, and are near the bottom of the ladder," Leppitsch said.
"That doesn't help does it? Obviously those sorts of things turn around quickly, teams sort of go up and down the ladder, but that's OK, we've got long-term planning, we know who we're bringing in and what we're doing.
"We have to get games into some people, build them up there, and one day we'll look back and we'll have the games on the board and the experience, and hopefully be where teams like Hawthorn are now."
Leppitsch tried to remain positive after the Lions were competitive for most of the game against the Giants, but said his club's injury toll had tested his patience.
The Lions have captain Tom Rockliff, Jed Adcock, James Aish, Daniel Merrett and Claye Beams, among those unavailable this week.
"It just gets past a joke, really, after a while. Most of ours are collision-based as well, that doesn't happen a lot, so it's disappointing it's all coming at once but what can you do?" Leppitsch said.
"We go into a bye a little bit battered and bruised as the list goes, but we go in with pretty good confidence.
"I think the last month our effort has improved out of sight, irrespective of the wins and losses. We'll slowly get players back in the back half of the year and the scoreboard will bridge even closer again."
Despite the loss to the Giants and a packed rehab room, Leppitsch said Lions supporters should take a glass half-full approach to the first half of the season.
"Our first-gamer Hugh Beasley was good; our second-gamer Jordon Bourke, I thought, was really good in defence," Leppitsch said.
"I thought they held up. There was a few times when the ball went coast to coast and they were under the pump, so they did well."
