Geelong concede star forward Jeremy Cameron will miss "several weeks" with a recurrence of the hamstring injury that plagued him earlier in the year.
Cameron was substituted out of the Cats' win over Essendon last Friday night with a right hamstring issue.
He had been cleared to play by club medical staff despite reporting tightness in both hamstrings before the match.
Scans over the weekend revealed a hamstring strain.
"Unfortunately, this injury will see Jeremy miss several weeks," Geelong football manager Simon Lloyd said on Monday in a statement.
"Our medical and conditioning teams are working closely with Jeremy on his rehab program.
"It will be a matter of monitoring how he progresses to then determine a timeline on his return to football."
After a high-profile trade from GWS last November, Cameron injured his right hamstring in January and again on the eve of the season, causing him to miss the opening five rounds.
The 28-year-old has since kicked 28 goals in 10 matches, forming a dangerous three-pronged partnership with Tom Hawkins and Gary Rohan in the Cats' forward line.
Cameron kicked three goals against Essendon before taking himself out of the game during the second quarter.
In his post-match press conference on Friday night, Geelong coach Chris Scott defended the club's decision to allow Cameron to play.
"More than people realise, there are really hard decisions that need to be made by the medical staff," Scott said.
"He had a bit of tightness there pre-game but they were confident that the right decision was made for him to play."
The Cats will be able to recall Esava Ratugolea against Carlton in round 17 after the ruck-forward was left out against Essendon.
