Brisbane Lions' coach Leigh Matthews has revealed star centre-half-forward Jonathan Brown is struggling with various aches and pains and his inability to train is affecting his performance.
And Matthews has also conceded that veteran midfielder Nigel Lappin's crippling achilles injury - which has sidelined him since round four - is not improving and the 2004 best and fairest winner is unlikely to play again this season.
The loss of Lappin and Brown's problems are further blows to the Lions' already fading finals chances with the team now in ninth place having lost five of their past six matches.
The Lions are one game adrift of eighth-placed St Kilda and will need to win their three remaining games - at home to third-placed Western Bulldogs and fellow finals contenders Carlton and a difficult away game against fourth-placed Sydney - to be sure of reaching the finals for the first time since 2004.
Brown, who played just 24 games in two seasons over 2005-06 because of groin and hip problems, has been far more durable of late and has played 18 of 19 games this year after playing in all 22 last year when he won the Coleman Medal and the Lions' best and fairest for the first time.
But on Saturday against Hawthorn, Brown - who has kicked 63 goals for the season - could manage just one goal from six possessions in his worst performance of the season.
Matthews admitted on Monday that Brown - who also captained Victoria earlier this season - was struggling.
"He has got enormous courage but he has got a lot of things he is coping with," he said.
"Anyone who goes to training knows he can't get out there (and train) on Wednesdays."
Matthews said Brown's inability to train because of his aching body was hindering his performance.
"Just playing weekends and then (worrying about) getting up the following week makes it tough to play at the level you are capable of playing of.'
"Even last year when he played all the games, and he will play most games this year, he is rarely able to train on a Wednesday and his body does take a pounding."
The revelation that Brown's body is beginning to show the wear and tear that eventually wore down other great centre-half-forwards such as Wayne Carey and Dermott Brereton late in their careers will make it more difficult for the 26-year-old to win himself a new long-term contract with the Lions.
Brown, who will be targeted by just about every Victorian club at the end of this year when he falls out of contract, wants a new five year deal to remain with Brisbane but such a long-term deal would be fraught with danger for the Lions if his body begins to prevent him from playing with the club expected to offer him at most a three year deal.
As for 32-year-old Lappin, his decorated 279 game career remain in limbo.
"Nigel hasn't been able to complete a normal training session since he hurt himself four months ago," Matthews said on Monday.
"Time is marching on and we are now in the middle of August."
"If Nigel completed a normal training session on Wednesday (he could return to the side) but realistically he is no better placed than he was four months ago."
"He has done everything known to mankind in between but his achilles tendon is still sore when he runs."
But Matthews would not be drawn on Lappin's long term future saying "we will worry about next year when next year becomes the case."