Dual Geelong club champion Cam Guthrie will miss a large chunk of the looming AFL season because of a thigh injury.
Guthrie will miss at least the next eight weeks after damaging a tendon in his right quadricep in the opening minute of the Cats' trial game against Carlton last Thursday.
"The prognosis indicates Cam will be sidelined for eight to 10 weeks," Geelong's football manager Andrew Mackie said on Tuesday.
The injury is another severe setback for the 31-year-old Guthrie after injury cruelled his 2023 campaign.
Guthrie managed the first six games of last season but then missed the rest of the year due to a foot injury that ultimately required surgery.
His pre-season training had raised hopes of the dashing on-baller recapturing the form that delivered him club champion awards in 2020 and 2022.
Guthrie worked with the Australian Ballet's chief physiotherapist Dr Sue Mayes and had returned to fitness ahead of the trial game against the Blues.
But in that game, Guthrie had the first kick of the match and then limped off clutching his right thigh.
Geelong, who won the 2022 premiership but missed the finals last season, host Essendon in another practice match on Friday night ahead of their premiership season opener against St Kilda, also at home, on March 16.
