Geelong midfielder Mark O'Connor's 2024 campaign has been cut short due to another injury setback.
O'Connor dealt with a knee issue during the second half of the season and made a recent return through the VFL for the Cats' qualifying final against Werribee.
A wrist injury that will require surgery has since placed the Irishman back on the sidelines, with O'Connor's season cut short after going under the knife.
The setback ends O'Connor's year at 13 games at AFL level, his most recent coming in round 16 against Essendon.
โMark underwentย successfulย surgeryย andย will take no further partย in ourย Finalsย campaign, we look forward to seeing him back out on the track and ready to go for a full pre-season,โ assistant Geelong football boss Brett Johnson said in a club update.ย
The premiership Cat joins a Kardinia Park casualty ward that consists of veteran forward Gary Rohan, who has been ruled out of Geelong's upcoming preliminary final with a fractured skull.
Star defender Tom Stewart is expected to play in the penultimate match of the season after being a late out for last Thursday's qualifying final against Port Adelaide with illness.
Stewart carried a hamstring concern into last week but was likely to face the Power before being struck down with illness in the morning of the Cats' September return.
Senior pair Tom Hawkins (foot) and Cameron Guthrie (Achilles) made successful returns through the VFL over the weekend.
Geelong will face the winner of Saturday night's semi-final between GWS and Brisbane at the MCG on September 21, with a win set to see Chris Scott guide his side to a second grand final in three years.
