Wounded Lions to fight bans at AFL tribunal

The Brisbane Lions will challenge the suspensions handed to Harris Andrews and Darcy Gardiner in a bid to free the key defensive pair to play in the huge clash with Sydney.

Brisbane lost Hugh McCluggage to a calf strain in a tense first-up defeat to the Western Bulldogs and suffered further blows when Andrews (three matches), Gardiner (one) and Zac Bailey (one) all banned for striking.

The reigning dual premiers won't challenge Bailey's suspension, but have confirmed they will attempt to overturn the other two decisions at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night.

Co-captain Andrews was charged over the high contact that knocked out the Bulldogs' Arthur Jones at the Gabba on Saturday night.

The pair had flown for an aerial contest and when the ball hit the deck, the Lions' skipper threw back his left arm to block Jones' run but struck him in the face.

Jones was immediately treated and taken off with concussion.

The incident was graded careless conduct, high contact and severe impact, drawing a three-match suspension.

It remains to be seen how Brisbane will argue against any of those assessments.

The loss of premier defender Andrews would be significant given the Lions face red-hot Sydney and their new spearhead Charlie Curnow at the SCG on Saturday night.

Andrews, 29, is also slated to miss games against St Kilda and Collingwood.

Gardiner was cited for a high arm to Bulldogs forward Aaron Naughton in an action that led to a 50-metre penalty.

It was assessed as high contact, medium impact and careless conduct, resulting in a one-match ban.

Bailey was cited over his elbow to the head of Bulldogs debutant Michael Sellwood after the Lions star was tackled over the boundary line.

In better news for Brisbane, ruck recruit Sam Draper is a potential inclusion to face Sydney after battling foot soreness following his recovery from an achilles tear.