Brisbane Lions CEO Greg Swann has confirmed new recruit Nakia Cockatoo has suffered a minor injury setback and will miss the club's VFL game this week.
The 24-year-old left Geelong at the end of last season, seeking a fresh start after a career that has been marred by injury so far.
While Cockatoo has been able to play successive games in the VFL, Swann said he felt some “awareness” after last week’s game against Southport early in the game.
He said both Cockatoo and the club would take a conservative approach, opting to rest him from any level of football this weekend.
“He played five VFL games in a row which is almost a record for him in the last few years,” he said on Sportsday.
“Early in the game last week, he had a little bit of awareness. The scans were OK, he hasn’t torn anything, but he was just a bit conservative himself.
“We have a VFL game on Friday and he won’t play that, but he should be right for the week after so it’s a minor setback.
“He had strung five games together and was just starting to get his groove back, he just needs to get a bit of confidence back into his body before we can put him into the senior team.”
Brisbane’s AFL team will play Geelong at the Gabba on Thursday night, while both the Lions and Cats will meet at South Pine Sports Complex in the VFL on Friday morning.