Jeremy Cameron's surgically-repaired arm is not a serious issue, according to Geelong coach Chris Scott, despite the star forward pulling up lame several times during the 9-point loss to Fremantle.
What happened?
The 33-year-old underwent surgery after breaking his right arm in last year's grand final loss to Brisbane and is still suffering some nerve issues from that injury.
Cameron looked to have hurt the same arm again when he was tackled by Fremantle ruckman Mason Cox in the third term of Thursday night's blockbuster in Perth.
And he was again left in pain and looking to protect his arm when he copped a hit from Pat Voss later in that same quarter.
Why it matters for Jeremy Cameron
Cameron finished with two goals from six disposals, but has also been dealing with a “grumbly” hip issue, which could be a concern for Geelong.
Despite Scott's insistence that Cameron's arm is okay, the veteran looked to be in discomfort and at times appeared cautious when he needed to attack.
What comes next?
AFL expert Kane Cornes called out one incident during the third term when the ball was in Fremantle's forward line, Geelong was holding a four-point lead, and Cameron appeared to be gun-shy, allowing the Dockers to score.
Geelong will regain Tom Stewart and Smith when they return from their bye to take on Brisbane on July 2, and Scott hopes the break will also help Cameron freshen up.
The Cats pushed Fremantle all the way in Perth, opening up a 28-point lead midway through the second quarter before the Dockers finally found their range in front of goal, winning 14.15 (99) to 14.6 (90).
Scott was feeling relatively optimistic following the loss to Fremantle, who have now won 13-straight games, saying “I don’t think we come away from the game devastated at where we’re at”.
The 14.15 (99) to 14.6 (90) defeat leaves Geelong with a 9-6 record, but Scott believes the bye will come at a good time for Cameron, allowing him to recover from his arm and hip issues.