World Footy News

Reports came through last week that the Brisbane Lions’ vice-captain, Pearce Hanley, had injured himself and could miss up to 12 weeks. A visit to the surgeon, however, found that the hip cartilage damage was worse than originally thought and the star player would not return until about Round 14.

Hanley had been carrying the injury, but when it became too uncomfortable to bear it was decided to have a cartilage clean-up. This procedure unearthed additional damage that would require more comprehensive surgery than first thought.

The Brisbane Lions club and fans would be disappointed, especially as Hanley had been enjoying a “promising” pre-season in readiness for being a key part of the club’s 2015 assault on a hoped for finals berth.

The injury is also a blow for the former Irish player who has become a pace-setter for international player success. Originally a Gaelic footballer for County mayo in Ireland, Hanley was rookie-drafted by the Brisbane Lions in 2008. He has since played 96 games for the club and in recent seasons has become a key player at the club, enjoying a career best nine votes at the 2014 Brownlow Medal count.

Brisbane Lions supporters will be hoping Hanley can recover quickly, as will his international supporters back home in Ireland.

The Brisbane Lions also recruited his younger brother Cian Hanley, who by all accounts might have his own skill set to rival Pearce. However, Cian is still on the road to full recovery after sustaining a serios knee ligament injury playing Gaelic football in Ireland last year.