Brisbane coach Michael Voss has called for a "rigorous" AFL debate about the merits of capping interchanges or introducing substitutes to limit the adverse effects of injuries.

Voss warned the frenzy of interchanges has seen the game become too dangerous and unfair for teams which lose players to game-ending injuries.

The weekend's round 11 firmly brought the issue into focus with North Melbourne finishing their clash against St Kilda with 17 players and both Brisbane (Josh Drummond) and Hawthorn (Cyril Rioli) having players struck down in the opening exchanges.

Voss revealed on Monday the Lions had sent a pre-season submission to the AFL raising the prospects of either reserves being introduced or interchanges being limited to a set number to ensure "an even-playing field".

"There is a definite disadvantage of losing a player very early in the game," he said.

"It puts a tremendous amount of pressure on another group of players which then increases the likelihood of injuries on those guys."

Voss saw first-hand how tough injuries can make life when Collingwood upped their interchanges and came from behind in round four to punish the Lions after Jed Adcock and Jamie Charman were sidelined.

But the first-year coach admitted himself he uses exactly the same strategy to pressure the fatiguing opposition.

Voss said the issue was more relevant now than any other period of the game due to the high amount of player rotations.

"I know that if an opposition player goes down I'm ramping up my rotations too because I'm making sure that the intensity is right up there so I put some massive load on the other players," he said.

"Some may say that's part of coaching and that might be part of the sport but I think it's got to the point the keel is starting to go the other way.

"I'm not suggesting you still can't win, but I do think it does load up the other players and we do increase the likelihood of the number of injuries due to the increased fatigue of the other players."

Former Richmond coach Terry Wallace last year proposed the AFL allow sides to name two reserves who could be called on during games if their teammates suffered game-ending injuries.

The AFL trialled the innovation during the pre-season and it was well-received by teams.

Voss said the legitimacy of injuries could be ensured by the player being made to miss the next weekend's match, while he nominated a possible cap of 80 rotations.

He could see counter-arguments to both proposals but felt the issue needed to be completely thrashed out by the AFL, media and public.

"Whether it happens or not it doesn't matter but I think there should be a rigorous discussion as to whether this concept has legs or not," he said.

The in-form Drummond's loss to a calf strain has been compounded by his scratching for Sunday's clash against Hawthorn in Launceston.

It leaves the Lions with a defensive crisis as fullback Daniel Merrett (ankle) and centre half-back Joel Patfull (jaw) aren't due back until after the mid-season bye.

Part of Voss's early-year submission to the AFL was a mid-season draft.

"I wouldn't mind it (a mid-season draft) right now, I think I'd be looking across Australia for a defender," he said.

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