Geelong have been left to rue playing a sore Jack Henry after the premiership defender suffered a hamstring injury that will sideline him for some crucial games.
The key back was troubled by an ankle/foot issue and rushed down to the rooms pre-game before the Cats' 12.13 (85) to 6.10 (46) win over Melbourne on Friday night.
But Henry took to the field and impressed early, before hobbling off midway through the second quarter holding his right hamstring.
"An hour before the game, it was sort of 50-50 as to whether he might play, and now we're kind of ruing the decision, even though he started so well," Geelong coach Chris Scott said of Henry.
"The hamstring was out of the blue. Hard to determine the severity, but he'll miss weeks."
Geelong, for the third week in a row, had already pulled a late change as versatile Mark Blicavs didn't play due to gastro.
Scott expects Blicavs to come straight back in to face Adelaide in the opening match of Gather Round on Thursday night.
Henry will almost certainly miss at least the Crows match, and Geelong's Easter Monday blockbuster against Hawthorn.
"Jack's a genuine key defender so we do need to replace him," Scott said.
Captain Patrick Dangerfield was the game-breaker in the Cats' dour 39-point win, booting three goals in each of the first three quarters along with crucial bursts in the midfield.
"The more we can be kicking the ball to him, rather than him kicking it in there, we think it's going to be better for us," Scott said.
"I think he thinks that he can be a forward for many years to come, I think he's looking forward to that challenge.
"The best player of all-time (Leigh Matthews) did it, he went forward ... they're a bit similar.
"When you look at older players, the ones that haven't lost their speed and power you think they can play forever. Pat certainly hasn't lost any of that."
