Brisbane youngster Sam Skinner faces another lengthy stint on the AFL sidelines after enduring his third ruptured ACL.

Skinner, 20, injured his left knee playing for the Lions’ reserves in the NEAFL against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.

It’s the opposite knee to which he had reconstructed in 2015 and 2016, with the latter injury coming days before he was selected to make his AFL debut last July.

The 197cm-Skinner played his sole AFL game this year in Brisbane’s round 19 loss to West Coast, impressing with two goals before being sent back to the reserves.

Brisbane football boss David Noble said Skinner, the No.47 draft pick of 2015, would be given mental support.

“The club is extremely disappointed by another blow to Sam’s career after seeing how hard he worked over this last summer to get back and make his debut,” Noble said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Sam has shown great resilience and strength of character with his previous injuries.

“We will provide every support for him and his family from a medical and wellbeing perspective.”

On Monday, coach Chris Fagan identified Skinner as a key player for the last-placed Lions’ future.

“He is a real competitor and I’m really hopeful he will step up next year,” Fagan told SEN radio.