Two important calls loom for Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss.

One will be to his medical staff regarding the availability of key duo Jamie Charman and Jed Adcock due to ankle injuries.

And the other will be to AFL umpires boss Jeff Gieschen after what Voss believed was heavy handed treatment of his star forwards in their 17-point loss to Collingwood on Friday night.

The learning curve for rookie coach Voss took another fierce jolt following the Gabba arm wrestle with the Lions' fierce rivals.

First there were the worrying injuries.

Voss said the loss of Adcock - who had racked up 25 touches by three quarter time before being injured - was "critical" in their defeat.

But Charman looms as a massive loss.

Charman had only just come into the side to replace ruckman Matthew Leuenberger (knee) who is out for three months.

Charman had been usurped by the younger Leuenberger for the No.1 ruckman tag at the club.

But Voss was desperate for the veteran's services with Leuenberger sidelined.

If Voss's worst nightmare is realised, the Lions will have no fit ruckmen next Sunday for the AFL's toughest assignment - playing the Cats at Geelong.

Mitch Clark and Jared Brennan loom as a likely makeshift ruck pairing.

"We have our fingers crossed that Charmo hasn't done any damage," Voss said.

"Sometimes they can be zero weeks and just give you a bit of grief for a few days and sometimes they can be two (weeks).

"Obviously we are down Leuenberger and we wouldn't like to be down Charman - that starts to stretch your ruck stocks a fair bit."

Then there was what Voss believed were the Collingwood defenders' roughhouse tactics on Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw.

Brown kicked two goals in the first quarter before Simon Prestigiacomo moved in and kept the Lions captain goal-less for the rest of the match following several physical tangles.

Leading goal-scorer Bradshaw left without a major to his name thanks to Harry O'Brien.

"I will seek clarification with Jeff (Gieschen) about exactly what defenders can do against forwards - just for my own piece of mind," Voss said.

"And just to let Braddy and Browny know exactly what can happen."

The Lions led by 22 points in the second term, only to be reeled in following the four goal heroics of Paul Medhurst.

They kicked just one goal in the second half as the Pies booted 10 of the last 11 majors.

But Voss believed there was little separating the sides.

"We are in a battle to be able to wrestle a finals position," Voss said of his young side.

"If you give a team half an edge they will take it.

"We always have to come with our edge.

"If we don't then we pay the price. If we do we will be super competitive."

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