Queensland's second COVID-19 wave has Brisbane battling to keep their AFL season on track after a weakened team fell to Essendon at the Gabba.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan admits the Lions are battling to keep Queensland's latest COVID-19 wave from crashing into the AFL club.
The Lions had to withdraw several players due to COVID-19 throughout the week leading up to Sunday's home match against Essendon.
A depleted line-up fell to a 10-point loss against the Bombers at the Gabba - the club's fourth defeat in seven matches.
It means Brisbane are in a tight battle to hold onto fourth place on the ladder, with in-form Collingwood having drawn level on points after winning seven games in a row.
While Fagan expects all of his COVID-19 absentees barring Noah Answerth to be available for next weekend's clash with GWS in Canberra, the threat of more cases in his squad as the virus sweeps through south-east Queensland is a real concern.
"We're back to mask-wearing, we're back to doing meetings online," Fagan said.
"We're doing the best we can to minimise the amount of time they have to come in here, but that's all we can do.
"They have wives and children that go to school ... it's a little harder now.
"Back last year and the year before the whole of society was in a bubble, the rest of society is not. We're trying to be, but it's very difficult to manage that process."
Queensland had over 4000 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours with deputy premier Steven Miles saying people should start wearing masks again in public if they're concerned about contacting the virus.
Fagan said what steps the club takes going forward to minimise the impact of the escalating wave in their backyard will be guided by expert advice.
"Hopefully it can sort of slow down a little bit for us," Fagan said.
"This has been our week.
"It's not just players but staff have been sick as well.
"I got it last week and I thought I've been living pretty much like a monk for this football season, so I thought if I've got it, it can't be that hard to get."
