Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan is unsure when sore ruck stalwart Oscar McInerney will return as he battles a chronic back injury.
But the Lions might have found another ruck partner for premiership tall Darcy Fort after Henry Smith's impressive performance in his first game of 2025 in Saturday night's 27-point win against Collingwood.
Smith played four games last year before making way ahead of the Lions' successful finals push.
But playing up forward against Collingwood, Smith slotted three first-half goals, partnering superbly with Lions young gun Logan Morris.
A premiership player in his rookie season, Morris bagged a career-best six goals in the crucial victory over the Magpies to take his season tally to 40.
"He's a great player, young Logan," Fagan said.
"When he turned up, I just didn't know he was going to turn into the player that he's turned into very quickly.
"He's a level-headed young man, loves his footy and he was so disappointed in his game last week (in a 66-point smashing by Gold Coast).
"It was good to see him respond in the manner he did.
"Oscar's a bit sore at the moment so I'm not sure when he's going to be right.
"It's good that Henry's been able to come in as a forward, but he's also a pretty handy ruckman.
"I hope he can develop into a really good forward who can be a great back-up ruckman."
The Lions sit third with three games to come against Sydney (home), Fremantle (away) and Hawthorn (home) before their premiership defence begins in earnest during the finals.
Brisbane have been able to rise for the biggest games this season, particularly on the road, having taken care of Geelong at GMHBA Stadium, and Hawthorn and Collingwood at the MCG.
But Fagan is not getting too carried away with their first MCG win against the Magpies in 11 years, having needed a thorough review following a shambolic QClash performance.
The Lions will need to replace Ryan Lester for next Saturday's clash with the Swans after the premiership defender went off with concussion in the second quarter.
Lester's injury potentially opens the door for forgotten recruit Tom Doedee to make his Lions debut, having been cruelled by back-to-back ACL injuries and then struggling to find his best form.
