In another blow to the winless Brisbane Lions, forward Ryan Lester has been ruled out for the rest of the 2011 AFL season due to a foot injury.

Lester - pick No.28 in the 2010 Draft - underwent surgery on Monday after injurying his foot in their round three loss to Melbourne, only his third AFL game.

"Unfortunately scans last week showed that Ryan had ruptured the Linsfranc ligament, which is the ligament that stabilises the first and second metatarsal - essentially, his two largest toes," said Lions football operations manager Dean Warren.

"This did require surgery, which was performed successfully yesterday.

"A screw was placed in the ligament and Ryan will be in a cast for seven days."

Losing another forward is the last thing Lions coach Michael Voss would want to hear as he looks to turn around a frustrating 0-4 season start against Richmond on Saturday night at the MCG.

Lester, 18, joins an injury list that boasts captain Jonathan Brown - still four weeks away from returning from horrific facial fractures - and fellow forward Brent Staker (nine weeks away, knee).

However, Lions physical performance manager Brett Burton did provide some music to Voss' ears - Josh Drummond (quad), Xavier Clarke (knee) and Matt Maguire (quad) will all be available for the Tigers clash.

He also dismissed fitness concerns for young guns Daniel Rich and Roham Bewick.

"I'm happy to report this week that Xavier Clarke, Josh Drummond and Matt Maguire are all off the injury list and available to play," Burton told the Lions website.

"Some members and fans may have been concerned about Daniel Rich and Rohan Bewick following last Thursday's game against St Kilda.

"Richy had a minor hip complaint which is now fine - he'll be back into training tomorrow and will be available for this weekend.

"Rohan landed on his back which was giving him some grief but this also appears to be minor and Rohan should be available to play this weekend also - we're going to test him at training tomorrow."

Burton also gave an encouraging report on Brown.

"Browny is travelling well. Basically he can physically do everything except get hit in his face...so he'll be into main training with the squad barring any contact drills," he said.

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