GEELONG'S mature-aged draft selection Ryan Abbott has suffered a leg fracture that will keep him sidelined until the middle of January.
 
Abbott was injured spoiling the ball in a marking contest at training on Friday and was on crutches at the Cats' annual general meeting on Monday.
 
The 25-year-old was plucked from relative obscurity after winning Grovedale's best and fairest the past two seasons in the local Geelong Football League.
 
Geelong director of coaching Simon Lloyd said the fracture was to a non-weight bearing bone and he expected Abbott's recovery to be swift.
 
Meanwhile young forward Cory Gregson is wearing a moon boot once again after reporting pain in his foot.
 
He has been sent for scans and the club is awaiting specialist advice on whether he has suffered a setback.
 
Gregson, who missed the second half of last season with a stress fracture in his foot, was running a fortnight ago but he is now off the troublesome foot while the club awaits further advice.
 
Meanwhile, key forward Tom Hawkins is tracking well as he recovers from a knee operation. 
 
Lloyd told members at the AGM the team was focusing every aspect of its training on ensuring a team was developed that stands up in finals.
 
"The group is highly demanding on each other," Lloyd said.
 
"We're not resting on some of the positives of last year. We've just got to keep growing and getting better."