Young Geelong ruck Sam De Koning will be out for several weeks after undergoing surgery on Wednesday afternoon on a facial fracture.
De Koning suffered a broken nose in the win over Essendon on Sunday but scans later confirmed he had also suffered a further facial fracture that required surgery.
Sam De Koning will miss this week after having surgery WednesdayCredit: Getty Images
“He has a nasal fracture, but there was an auxiliary fracture as well around the nose and jaw,” Cats football manager Simon Lloyd confirmed.
He will be sidelined “short term” and most likely miss two weeks – possibly three.
Geelong was already likely to bring Jon Ceglar back into the team to ruck against the Crows at home this week and release the young De Koning to second ruck and not have to shoulder the first ruck burden. Ceglar will now come back as first ruck, with Mark Blicavs most likely as second ruck.
De Koning has had a tough start to the year – he has battled through injury in a couple of games and suffered a concussion in round three, which forced him to miss the Easter Monday game against Hawthorn.
Taylor Walker celebrates a goal.Credit: Getty
The Cats will be stretched against Adelaide without Blicavs in defence to help cover the Crows’ tall forwards Taylor Walker, Darcy Fogarty and Riley Thilthorpe.
Zach Tuohy will be likely to come back into the team after missing with back spasms last week.
Jack Henry, who has been missing all season after suffering a foot injury in the pre-season, is closing on a return to the team. Henry is expected to rejoin full training for the first time on Thursday and Lloyd said he was tracking towards a return before the bye.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.
