Geelong star Jeremy Cameron has been cleared of serious injury concerns after he was knocked out in an accidental collision with teammate Gary Rohan during the win over Melbourne.
Cameron was taken from the field on a stretcher and sent to hospital for further assessment after the first-quarter incident on Thursday night.
The 30-year-old was discharged from hospital in the early hours of Friday morning and will miss next week’s clash with Sydney while under concussion protocols.
The Cats had faced an anxious wait for an update on their leading goal-kicker’s health.
“Following further assessment at the hospital, Cameron has been cleared of any initial concerns and will continue to be assessed and monitored by the club’s medical staff,” Geelong said in a statement on Friday.
“Cameron has entered the league’s concussion protocols and will miss the club’s round-16 match against the Sydney Swans next Friday night.”
In the immediate aftermath of Thurs day night’s match, Geelong coach Chris Scott said Cameron’s injury and the near 10-minute wait for him to be assessed and taken off the ground had “shaken” Cats players.
But they hung tough in wet conditions at GMHBA Stadium and steamrolled flag fancies Melbourne with a six-goal burst at the start of the final term, reigniting their premiership defence in the process.
Rohan was visibly upset about injuring his teammate in a marking contest but refocused and kicked three crucial goals in a low-scoring affair, which Geelong won 11.12 (78) to 8.15 (63).
“Because he is the person that he is, it did rattle him, and I kind of respect him more for that because he’s not a sociopath,” Scott said.
“He’s got some empathy for one of his best friends, who he’s accidentally knocked out.
“The way he could refocus on what the team needed was very admirable.”
Rohan has been put under an intense spotlight by external critics at times since arriving at Geelong from Sydney at the end of 2018, but is valued within the club.
His three goals against Melbourne took his tally to 16 in nine games this season, behind only Cameron, Tom Hawkins and Oliver Henry.
“I can’t really speak to how other people see him, so I’ll just speak about the way I’ve seen him since he came to our club,” Scott said.
“He is so willing to play his role, and it’s a role that is hard for some people on the outside to understand.
“And I don’t just mean on the field as well. The way he is around the club, he’s someone that I admire.
“He’s so likeable … and to my eye Rohan was the most dangerous player on the ground.”
While Cameron will miss the encounter with Sydney at the SCG, Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield is a chance to return.
Dangerfield wanted to play against Melbourne – a week after suffering a cracked rib and a partially collapsed lung – but was overruled by club medical staff.
“He would’ve played tonight but he needs to be saved from himself,” Scott said.
“The good news is the medical staff have said the reason for him not playing tonight will be not a concern even in the next couple of days.
“That’s more around his lung issue. The other associated pain, he would’ve been cleared to play with that.”
