THE BRISBANE Lions have lost another young key forward to injury with Jono Freeman set to miss most of the season with an ankle issue.

The 21-year-old hadn't played this year because of a glute injury but was nearing his NEAFL return.

However, he will consult a specialist this Wednesday after injuring ligaments in his ankle at training on Tuesday when he stepped on someone's foot.

The Lions are already without forward Michael Close, who had a knee reconstruction last month after slipping on the artificial turf at Etihad Stadium.

"Jono hurt himself at training so it's about eight weeks out," coach Justin Leppitsch said after the Lions' nine-point win over Carlton on Sunday. 

"It's another key forward who's probably going to miss the campaign this year - he might be back for about a month or six weeks toward the end of the year hopefully. 

"It is a bit sad that with 'Closey' going down we can't get more hours into those boys, but they'll still mature - they'll be 21-year-olds next year so they'll be a bit stronger to compete. 

"That's OK - you've got to ride the bumps."

However, Leppitsch was buoyed by the promise showed in defender-turned-forward Daniel McStay on Sunday.

The 19-year-old kicked four goals and improved as the game progressed, as he pushed up and down the ground and presented strongly. 

"He built his confidence as the game wore on and just his ability to come at the kicker and jump at the ball, we always knew he could do that," Leppitsch said.

"At both ends I thought our tall young keys were really good, Dan and [Marco] Paparone and Harris Andrews, I thought those sorts of boys showed a bit today, which is exciting for our future." 

Young midfielder Nick Robertson dodged a bullet on Sunday when he crashed headfirst into the fence against the Blues in the third quarter.

There were distressing scenes at Etihad Stadium as he lay dazed and seemed to twitch on the city-side boundary. 

He was eventually able to stand and then sit on the motorised cart, and was remarkably able to return to the field later on.

"He got a bit of a head knock, but that was really it," Leppitsch said. 

"We pulled the concussion sub but he was OK. He hurt his back as well in the process when he fell, so it was as much his back as it was his head. 

"But it was something he could come back on the ground and it not be a worry. 

"We just took the concussion sub as a precaution."

The Lions had another casualty in Darcy Gardiner, with the young defender spotted on crutches after hurting his left ankle in the last quarter. 

"Poor Darce has had a bit of a shoulder and then he rolled his ankle," Leppitsch said.

"He's playing a little bit patched up at the moment and he's fighting through and doing a good job.

"I don't know his final assessment yet."