The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has called on the AFL to review its policy on pain-killing injections after Brisbane used 18 vials of drugs during Saturday's premiership victory.

Doctors warned masking pain could lead to further, more serious damage to players who take to the field while injured.

The Age said AMA Victorian vice-president Chris Merry called on the league to review the section of its drug code dealing with pain-killers.

Concern has focussed on midfielder Nigel Lappin, who was revealed after the game to have suffered a punctured lung.

"He had quite serious injuries going into that game and the treatment that he had masked the pain that would have been associated with those injuries," Dr Merry told Channel Ten.

"Our concern is that he could have suffered a serious, even life-threatening lung collapse."

Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews defended the practice, saying it had become a normal part of AFL football.

"I think footballers in past eras played with sore spots," he said.

"Nowadays if it's just a sore spot they try and deaden it."

The AFL backed the Lions on pain-killers.

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