GEELONG is optimistic forward Mathew Stokes will only miss one or two weeks of the pre-season after injuring his ankle on Saturday night in the first round of the NAB Cup.

Stokes was forced from the ground early in the second half after rolling his right ankle in a heavy tackle in the Cats' two-point win over West Coast at Patersons Stadium.

The Cats have indicated the injury is not expected to be a long-term issue despite Stokes ending the match on crutches and now being forced to wear a moon boot.

"We're not all that worried about it," football manager Neil Balme told SEN.

"It's hard to put a time on it but maybe a week or two, I think.

"While the docs were concerned about it – he's got a moon boot and all that to take the weight off it – but it's not all that bad, they reckon.
"Hopefully he'll be OK."

Steve Johnson drew attention for swinging his arm into the torso of Fremantle forward Hayden Ballantyne in the Cats' second game, which was an 18-point loss.  

Balme said the Cats would deal with it if the triple premiership player was cited on Monday but he considered the action to not be serious.
"I must admit, I've taken no notice of it at all. It's in someone else's hands," he said.

"I kind of saw it and it didn't look to be all that serious but I probably would be foolish to even talk about it.

"I'm hoping I don't have to deal with it."

Mathew Stokes is a forward in NAB AFL Fantasy. He averaged 65.74 points in 2012. Register your team at our AFL Fantasy Hub.

Jennifer Phelan is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenPhelan.