The Brisbane Lions have suffered a cruel pre-season setback with vice-captain Pearce Hanley set to miss the next three months.

Hanley has developed hip soreness over the last few weeks and has been managed through training, but the AFL club has decided to send him in for surgery next week.

The operation will clean up bone and cartilage in his hip and will sideline him for the next 12 weeks, meaning he will miss the first month of the AFL season.

Lions general manager of football operations Dean Warren said dealing with the Irishman’s injury now was the best course of action for the Lions.

“Pearce is obviously disappointed to miss the start of the season but the sensible approach is to have the surgery now,” Warren said.

“We have managed (the) injury through recent weeks but there is no use playing through the season and making the injury worse.

“Pearce is key part of our team and we will miss him but we would rather fix the problem now and make sure we get it right.”

Brisbane finished 15th last year and on-baller Hanley was one of their most crucial players, finishing fourth in the club’s best and fairest count and averaging 25.2 disposals per game.