BRISBANE Lion Rhys Mathieson will miss up to six weeks after having surgery on his fractured face on Monday night.
Mathieson received the injury following a high bump from Jeremy Cameron that cost the GWS forward a four-game suspension after he pleaded guilty to rough conduct at the Tribunal on Tuesday afternoon.
Lions' head of physiotherapy Shane Lemcke told the club's website Mathieson had two fractures – one to his cheekbone and one to the bone below it - to the right side of his face.
He said the teenager would miss four to six weeks.
Second-year forward Jaden McGrath was injured in the same NAB Challenge match on Sunday, but was cleared of a fracture in his left shoulder.
"He injured his left centre clavicular joint," Lemcke said.
"Fortunately he didn't fracture his clavicle but he’s still going to be out for a couple of weeks."
Forward Josh Green (foot) and captain Tom Rockliff (hamstring) will rejoin the main playing group on Thursday when the Lions return from a three-day break.
Rockliff has declared himself a certainty for round one.