Geelong senior coach Chris Scott has confirmed injured utility Jack Henry is set to miss the "next couple weeks" after injuring his footy, while reports have suggested the gun Cat has broken his foot as a result of the on-field incident.
The 24-year-old was unable to complete last Thursday's pre-season match simulation session against Hawthorn after sustaining the malady, landing awkwardly in a contest.
The concern comes 12 months after a similar footy injury kept Henry sidelined for a majority of Geelong's pre-season for 2022 before he missed the opening eight rounds of their home and away campaign.
The Cats are yet to disclose the full extent of Henry's latest setback, with the club likely to learn the diagnosis in the coming days.
Initial signs are a worry for Henry however, with his coach believing the news won't be positive.
"It's a little uncertain at the moment," Scott toldย SENย on Monday.
"I always try not to predict how these things are gonna go, but it's clearly complicated enough to be a problem.
"Just how bad it is... I think we'll know a little bit more in the next 48 hours.
"He's clearly not playing in the next couple of weeks. I think I've tried to stay we shouldn't read the tea leaves, but if you can detect the tone in my voice I'm not that positive."
SENย reporter Sam Edmund has reported that Henry has fractured the fifth metatarsal in his foot, an ailment that could force the Cats swingman out for close to eight weeks.
Henry was trialled in the forward line against the Hawks as Geelong look to fill the absence left by star tall Tom Hawkins, who has been sidelined since last year with a footy injury of his own.
The Cats had looked toward Henry as the man to replace Hawkins alongside Jeremy Cameron in attack, while the former's brother and Geelong recruit Ollie Henry will also be seen as a needed option for their early season plans.
The younger Henry, a recognised full-time forward, booted four goals against the Hawks to stake his claim for a Round 1 chance against his former club Collingwood.
His brother's move into attack also allowed Scott to move magnets across his backline, with forgotten tall Esava Ratugolea utilised in a key-position slot on Geelong's last line against Hawthorn.
With both Hawkins and Henry sidelined, Ratugolea looks to be in the mix for Round 1, with young tall Shannon Neale (ankle) also in the club's casualty ward.
Geelong will face Brisbane in Queensland this week for their second pre-season match before facing Collingwood at the MCG on Friday, March 17 to begin their premiership defence.
