GEELONG defender Harry Taylor will learn the full extent of his plantar fascia foot injury on Monday as the Cats lick their wounds with another potentially serious setback to a key defensive pillar.
Taylor limped from the ground approaching quarter time favouring his left foot and took no further part in Geelong's three-point win over Melbourne.
"My understanding is that it's plantar fascia," Cats coach Chris Scott said post-game.
"The extent of it is difficult for us to pinpoint right at the moment.
"It's not a great sign when they're out of the game and they can't come back, but we do ask our medical staff to spend a fair bit of time looking forward.
"Maybe he could've gone out there but there was too much risk for next week or the week after. That's the optimistic way of looking at it."
Scott said he was unaware of any concerns with Taylor's foot going into the match, despite the dual All Australian saying he had been dealing with an issue.
"It's been worrying me for a little while, not stopping me from doing anything," Taylor told Channel 7.
"Unfortunately I think it was just some acceleration or deceleration where it's been upset a little bit."
Scott said he was proud of the way the defensive unit stood up against Melbourne following the retirements of Tom Lonergan and Andrew Mackie, the absence of Taylor and Lachie Henderson who is on the comeback from off-season knee surgery.
Mark Blicavs moved back in the second and third quarters to play on Jesse Hogan with Taylor sidelined, while Cam Guthrie was "outstanding" and Jed Bews "played above his height."
Guthrie (groin) and Tom Stewart (ankle) came to the bench in 10 minutes of madness in the third term, Scott said both were sore but able to play out the match.
Joel Selwood appeared to injure his right leg in a crunching tackle in the third term and moved to full-forward momentarily but played out the match, picking up nine disposals in the final term.