Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield could be facing time on the sidelines after a bruising night in the Cats' crucial win over Melbourne.
On the same day he committed to playing on in 2027, to make it a 20th season in the AFL, Dangerfield was hobbled from the second quarter onwards at the MCG on Friday night.
The 36-year-old hurt his adductor and appeared set to be ruled out for the the rest of the match.
In fact Dangerfield returned to the ground in the third quarter, but was severely limited and had virtually no influence in the Cats' stunning charge.
The eight-time All-Australian finished the match with ice on his lower leg.
"This is just a knock on my shin that sort of bled a bit, and then that was sore but we'll wait and see next week," Dangerfield told Fox Footy.
"We'll probably scan it, but I was sort of able to get moving after half-time.
"Just the change in direction stuff is a bit average."
Geelong coach Chris Scott was deep in conversation with Dangerfield at three-quarter-time.
"He looked too sore to keep him out there, and we tried to keep him off, but he just ran back on the ground ... he's the boss," Scott said.
"Too early for me (to tell if he'll play next week) - every now and then I speculate, but when I do it's generally a mistake.
"Those champions, especially, are like 'put me back in the game, coach'. In the end, we agreed have a go at it.
"But he did say, to his credit, 'if you don't think I'm getting the job done, let me know'."
Geelong have just a six-day break before returning to the MCG for a showdown with in-form Collingwood on Thursday night.
The Cats are already without star forward Jeremy Cameron and hard-running midfielder Max Holmes for the rest of the home-and-away season.
Geelong pulled a late change, taking key defender Sam De Koning out due to illness and recalling forward Ollie Henry.
The move worked to perfection, Henry slotting four goals in an efficient display.
"He was too sick to play," Scott said.
"That happened within a five or 10-minute period just before the teams went in."
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