One of Geelong's most improved players last season, classy forward Travis Varcoe, will miss the start of the 2010 home-and-away season after he suffered a broken thumb in the final practice match against Fremantle on the weekend.
Varcoe underwent surgery on Tuesday night and will be in plaster for a month while it could be at least another fortnight after that before he is ready to return.
"It's not too bad but he could miss at least the first month of the season," Geelong football operations manager Neil Balme told Sportal on Wednesday.
"He suffered the fracture and we have had it fixed but it's not too bad."
Varcoe could not even recall suffering the injury during the game but complained of soreness on Monday so he was sent for a scan which revealed the fracture.
It is a significant blow for Varcoe, who played 22 of the Cats' 25 matches last year, and starred in the second half of the thrilling grand final win over St Kilda with his handball leading to Paul Chapman's winning goal.
Varcoe and Max Rooke, who kicked a goal after the final siren in the 12-point win over the Saints, are the only members of last year's premiership-winning 22 that are likely to miss the club's season opener against Essendon on March 26.
"Rooke is battling knee tendonitis and he is unlikely (for Round 1) at this stage," Balme said.
Star midfielder Joel Corey, who underwent an arthroscopy on an injured meniscus in late February after injuring his knee in the first-round NAB Cup loss to North Melbourne, is still a chance to play in the opening round.
"He is not too bad, we will how he comes up but he is a chance to play," Balme said of the Cats' 2005 and 2008 best and fairest winner.
The Cats will not seek permission from the AFL to play an additional practice match this weekend after their NAB Challenge match against Brisbane was washed out on March 6 at Visy Park following the freak hail storm that hit Melbourne that day.
That means the Cats, who as reigning premiers also began their pre-season training campaign later than rival clubs, have played just three practice matches compared to four for the other clubs - with the exception of Brisbane.
"We are not too concerned about it, it's not the end of the world," Balme said of the Cats' shorter preparation compared to rival teams heading into the season.
The Cats could have also asked for permission for some of their players to play in VFL practice matches this weekend - with no AFL practice games scheduled - but have decided to simply train instead.
"Some of our players may go in a little under prepared but we will soon catch up," Balme said.