Geelong have sent midfielder Lincoln McCarthy in for surgery in a bid to rectify his troublesome groin that has forced him to miss the past four AFL rounds with the injury.
The Cats say the 23-year-old will miss between four and eight weeks in rehabilitation from the operation.
"Medical experts believe this procedure is the best way to treat the injury," Cats football boss Steve Hocking said.
"There was a chance that the injury would improve through rest and rehabilitation but we have not seen any progress and after further evaluation it was determined that surgery was required."
McCarthy has been on Geelong's list since 2012 but has played just 27 matches.
He was denied a chance to launch in to the side in 2013 by a foot injury, and after ankle trouble in 2014, missed the entire 2015 campaign with similar foot issues.
Last year he played 19 games, missing matches with minor hip, ankle and groin complaints.
Hocking says McCarthy's history of overcoming injury setbacks should see McCarthy back in the senior side sooner rather than later.
"This is an unfortunate setback, but Linc has already shown the ability to rebound from disappointment in his career and we know he will come back strongly," Hocking said.
