GEELONG'S win over Richmond has been soured by an injury to veteran James Kelly, with the Cats premiership star suffering a suspected ruptured testicle.
 
The 31-year-old was subbed out of the Cats’ nine-point victory in the third term after a heavy collision and taken to hospital in an ambulance.
 
Cats coach Chris Scott was light on details when he fronted the media after the game, but said the club was hoping for the best for the three-time premiership player.
 
"I know it's a nasty sounding groin injury, but I don't really know any more than that," Scott said.
 
"I'm just hoping hospital is a precaution the same way it was with [North Melbourne's] Jack Ziebell and it's a quick recovery, but don't take my word as gospel. I haven't really spoken to the doctors about it yet."
 
It was one of few down points for the Cats, who led by 32 points midway through the final term before the Tigers made a late but futile dash for victory.

The win leaves Geelong better placed at 2-3 after five rounds, and it was the influence of its key position players at both ends of the ground that did plenty of damage.
 
In attack Tom Hawkins kicked three goals but set up plenty of other opportunities with deft touches and handballs, while the defensive trio of Harry Taylor, Jared Rivers and Tom Lonergan proved difficult for the Tigers to counter.
 
Scott said after the club's difficult start to the year – it has lost to premiership contenders Fremantle, Hawthorn and North Melbourne – he expected his side to improve.
 
He acknowledged the Geelong team is not the same one that has won three premierships in its golden era, but was confident about what lies ahead.  
 
"[After] the first month or so of footy, we're behind some of the best teams, there's no doubt. But I'm not even exactly sure who some of the best teams are going to be at the end of the season," Scott said.
 
"We know Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Sydney and Freo are good sides, but I reckon there's a big bunch of them behind them coming at them, and you can probably throw North into that mix as well. I'm not sure where we sit, but that's the exciting part.
 
"There's less certainty when you go to watch the Cats play, and we're working to give (our supporters) a little more certainty. It's different, but we're on a course that we're pretty confident in. But we're well aware of how good the competition is."
 
Scott praised the game of midfielder Mitch Duncan, who starred with 29 disposals and two goals, and conceded the Cats may have "erred" in pushing him out of midfield roles in recent weeks.
 
Forward Mitch Clark, who missed the clash with a sore foot, is likely to return for the Cats for next Friday night's match against Collingwood.