Having missed three matches with soreness in his right foot, Johnson started the game against the Hawks in brilliant fashion, tallying nine disposals in the first quarter.

But he gathered just eight more touches for the game as his foot problems curtailed his ability to have an impact on the game.

"I don't think it was a lack of match fitness," Geelong coach Chris Scott said after the match. 

"I think he's got a sore foot. That foot's going to be a problem for us, I think."

Scott refused to say that playing Johnson had been a mistake, but he didn't hide his disappointment that the mercurial midfielder was unable to have an influence on the entire game.

"The medical staff put a plan in place," Scott said. "They told us he was available, and he played.

"But he struggled through the night with that issue."

Johnson is highly unlikely to play in Geelong's semi-final against either North Melbourne or Essendon at the MCG next weekend.

"(He's) in doubt. Yeah, certainly," Scott said. 

Steven Motlop was another Cats player who struggled through the clash with the Hawks.

Motlop hurt his right ankle midway through the second quarter. He hobbled from the field and had some treatment before returning to the fray, but was a shadow of his usual dazzling self in a second half where he picked up just three disposals.

"He was sore as well through the game," Scott said. 

"That stung a little bit. He's an important player for us, and he was obviously limited.

"I haven't got any information around his availability for next week, but given that he played out the game, that's positive."