Punching Geelong AFL captain Joel Selwood cost Brisbane tagger Andrew Raines a week’s suspension.
But the biggest blow might have been landed on the Lions as they look for someone to blunt Essendon captain Jobe Watson in Saturday’s clash at Etihad Stadium.
James Polkinghorne looms as the man most likely – but Raines is a hard act to follow.
The 26-year-old was so annoyingly effective against Gary Ablett a fortnight ago, many believe that is why the Gold Coast captain took to Twitter to have a crack at another tagger – Fremantle’s Ryan Crowley – last Friday night.
Raines backed up well the next week against Selwood – too well.
His niggling act prompted Selwood to lash out at Raines during the Lions’ 38-point loss to the Cats – but the Brisbane tagger was the one suspended for his retaliatory punch.
“He is a big loss. The role he’s done for us the last two weeks have been terrific,” key Lion Josh Drummond said of Raines on Wednesday.
“It’s been well-documented himself and other taggers the last couple of weeks but he did a really good job the week before against Gaz … and did well against Selwood on the weekend as well.
“He’s definitely a loss and someone we’ll have to cover in the group.”
Polkinghorne looks set to overcome an elbow complaint and step into Raines’ big shoes but Claye Beams and Ryan Harwood are other options.
“He’s done some run-with roles and, given his strong body and his ability to work inside, he’s one (tagger option),” Drummond said.
“Of the young guys, Claye (Beams) has had a few goes at it with success.”
The Lions (2-3 record) have won just six games since downing Essendon in round 21 in 2010 while the Bombers (4-1) have turned their fortunes around.
Yet Drummond was happy with the Lions’ progress.
“We’re confident in the direction we’re heading and the improvement we have in us,” he said.
“We’re getting to a stage now where we’re seeing our senior players out there (and off injury list) and playing together.
“It takes time. If you are chopping and changing your team every two or three weeks, it’s hard to get your continuity.
“(But) we understand it’s a big game for us this week and you don’t want to get too far behind the eight-ball in terms of the win-loss ratio.”