Geelong are hopeful swingman Jack Henry's latest foot injury isn't significant, with the Cats defender subbed out of Saturday's win over Port Adelaide after being stood on.
Henry missed the opening nine rounds of the season with a foot injury sustained in the pre-season, however this weekend's setback occurred on his other foot to leave Geelong somewhat breathing a sigh of relief.
The injury occurred midway through the opening half, with Henry undergoing testing before eventually being subbed out at three-quarter time.
Looking to prevent Henry from moving on his foot after the injury, the Cats made the call to rule the 24-year-old out of the match and bring Brandan Parfitt into play as the tactical sub.
Geelong coach Chris Scott said the club's medical team are confident Henry has avoided a serious setback.
"In the end we just subbed him off, he just had his foot stood on," the two-time premiership coach said.
"He's had some issues with his foot (previously), but this was on the other side. The feedback to me is they're not worried about anything serious, it was just really limiting his movement.
"(Gary) Rohan had a little bit of an issue there as well. If you surveyed all the clubs at Round 21, and if they were honest with you, they'd tell you about all the guys who were carrying little niggles."
The Cats clinched a two-goal win over the Power, with recruit Ollie Henry leading the night with four goals and one assist to help steer his side to a much-needed victory.
With star forward Jeremy Cameron continuing to battle with form and injury, coupled with the absence of Tom Hawkins due to a hamstring strain, Scott was thrilled with Henry's performance in leading from the front.
"He was dynamic, probably the most influential player on the ground," Scott said of the 21-year-old.
"Without Hawkins our forward line was always going to look a bit different. Cameron hasn't been able to get back to his best just yet, but I thought there were really good signs there and we're optimistic that he's building to the point where he can play his best footy in the remaining home and away games.
"He's had a lack of continuity all year. For various reasons, it's made it difficult for him.
"But there's no doubt Ollie Henry is going to be an important part of (the final three rounds), he gave us a look we haven't had for a long time."
Hawkins, who sustained a low-grade hamstring strain in last week's loss to Fremantle, is a live chance to make a return against Collingwood on Friday night in what would be a major boost for the finals-hopeful Cats.
Scott said Hawkins is likely to return before the end of the home and away season, with a Round 22 return a best-case scenario.
"He's a possibility," The Cats coach said of his veteran forward.
"It was only a minor hamstring and it's the first one he's ever done, so I think because of that, the likelihood is that we would hold him back a little bit, but we expect him to play before the end of the home and away season."
The loss for Port Adelaide leaves the Alberton club susceptible to falling to fourth on the ladder after missing out on the chance of closing the gap on ladder leaders Collingwood.
The 12-point defeat at Kardinia Park came after a difficult few days leading into the trip to Victoria, with the Power forced into making four late changes from Friday due to injury and illness.
The changes came after defensive pair Aliir Aliir and Lachie Jones were placed in concussion protocols from a highly-documented incident last Saturday which has since seen the club handed a $100,00 fine.
To make matters worse on the night, the Power lost key defender Trent McKenzie to a knee injury early into the contest, leading to an undermanned back third for Ken Hinkley to battle with.
"That hurt, that's a fact," Hinkley said of relying on a depleted squad.
"We selected a side on Thursday morning and we made seven changes from the time the side was selected, and then we lost Trent 10 minutes in.
"They definitely hurt, but every team has challenges."
Port Adelaide are preparing to have Kane Farrell, Jeremy Finlayson and Miles Bergman back from illness for next week's match against GWS alongside Aliir and Jones.
Key forward Charlie Dixon is less likely to play after suffering a knee injury at training this week.
McKenzie's chances of playing again this year could hinge on a deep finals run after suffering a suspected PCL injury.
"Probably a PCL, but we don't know exactly until we do the scans," Hinkley said.
"It looked and acted like a PCL, so that'll be a medium to long-term recovery probably. That'll be a challenge for us."
