GEELONG has suffered another major injury blow with defender Cameron Guthrie to be sidelined for up to two months following ankle surgery.
Guthrie underwent an operation on his right ankle on Wednesday evening after his right foot became trapped underneath Eagle Jamie Cripps' body in a tackle during Sunday's game at Optus Stadium.
The defender suffered damage to the syndesmosis joint in his right ankle, and after seeing a surgeon on Wednesday morning it was decided an operation would speed up the recovery time.
David Young, the surgeon who played a significant role in ensuring Bulldog Tom Liberatore and Cats skipper Joel Selwood got back in time for their respective finals campaigns in 2016 and 2017, performed the surgery.
"After consultation, it was felt the best course of action was for Cameron to undergo this procedure," Geelong’s general manager of football Simon Lloyd said.
Liberatore returned to play 41 days after his operation, while Selwood got back on the field for last year's qualifying final against Richmond just 32 days after he hurt his ankle against Sydney in round 20, 2017.
Carlton captain Marc Murphy suffered a similar injury to his ankle in 2016 and at the time decided not to have surgery, which saw his recovery time balloon out to four-and-a-half months.
Murphy and the Blues had hoped he would be back playing within three weeks when he suffered the injury in round 10, 2016.
The Cats are hopeful Guthrie will be able to be back running on the Alter G (anti-gravity) treadmill within three weeks.
WATCH: Guthrie suffers ankle dramas
Without any setbacks, the defender would be back in full training in six weeks and then look to play at the eight-week mark of his recovery.
That would see him return sometime around round 11.
The Cats will be forced to make three changes to the side that lost to West Coast by 15 points with Guthrie to join superstar midfielder Gary Ablett (hamstring) and young forward Nakia Cockatoo (PCL/knee) on the sidelines.
The club confirmed Cockatoo would not require surgery, but no timeline has been given for his return.
Ablett will miss several weeks with his hamstring injury.
Geelong faces St Kilda at GMHBA Stadium in the round four Sunday twilight game.
