Beams could be out for AFL season

Star Brisbane midfielder Dayne Beams will be sent for knee surgery next week and could be out for the rest of the AFL season, coach Justin Leppitsch says.

Beams, who has battled knee tendonitis since pre-season, didn't play the last quarter of the Lions' shocking loss to Collingwood at the weekend and will now go under the knife on Thursday.

The Lions expect to know more about how long Beams will be out for once the surgery is completed, but Leppitsch said the precise nature of the injury even has doctors confounded.

"I'm not sure of an endpoint, whether it's a month or the end of the season," he told reporters on Friday.

"It's complication with the tendonitis.

"It's a funny one, his actual tendon looks OK but there's still some pain in the area.

"There's a little bit of unknown about it and that's what's probably been the frustration for Dayne - when you have an injury that even the medical professionals are not sure about why there's bits of pain there and why the pain is so strong.

"We'll get answers on that post-surgery."

Beams joined the Lions last year but was restricted to 16 games due to a shoulder injury, and has only made two appearances for the club this season.

But there is better news around skipper Tom Rockliff, who Leppitsch said would be back from his hamstring issues either next weekend or the one after.

Brisbane takes on Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.