BRISBANE'S ability to cover for the 2021 Grand Final best on ground Kate Lutkins has been a collective effort.

Lutkins is sidelined for the first time in her AFLW career, having played every possible game until she tore her ACL in round one.

It was a double whammy for Lutkins, who told Credit to the Girls podcast she tested positive for COVID-19 just 10 minutes after receiving the results of her knee scan.

00:24

Lions cop huge blow as Lutkins goes down

Brisbane's Kate Lutkins had to be carried off the ground after suffering a suspected serious knee injury

"With our backline, there's no one player out there. They're such a defensive unit as a whole, and they all fill each position as necessary, they can all play high, they can all play that running half-back, and they can all play deep," Lutkins said.

"They adjust pretty quick on the ground when they're down a player or something's happened.

"Nat Grider's really turning up, Bre Koenen is always underrated, Shannon Campbell is underrated and it's really great to see Indy (Tahau) stepping up, and Lulu (Pullar) and Sharni (Webb) coming into the squad has been really exciting for that group. They just work really well, it's such a great defensive unit."

EPISODE GUIDE

0:47 – Kate Lutkins joins the show

1:28 – Watching from the sidelines

2:20 – The new-look Lions defence

4:25 – Rehab buddies with Gabby Collingwood

6:10 – The Lions squad rebounding from COVID-19

8:02 – What sets Emily Bates apart?

9:45 – How did Cate Campbell's Olympic medals end up at Brisbane training?

11:28 – Once again, the Lions are flying under the radar