Geelong star Jeremy Cameron has been cleared of serious injury concerns after he was knocked out in an accidental collision with teammate Gary Rohan during the win over Melbourne.
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Cameron was taken from the field on a stretcher and sent to hospital for further assessment after the first-quarter incident on Thursday night.
The 30-year-old was discharged from hospital in the early hours of Friday morning and will miss next week's clash with Sydney while under concussion protocols.
"I am feeling a lot better than I did last night," Cameron said in a video he posted on social media on Friday from his hobby farm outside Geelong.
"Thanks for everyone's messages of support. I appreciate that.
"But in the last 10 minutes, just starting to feel a lot better, because we have lit up the 'bonnie' (bonfire)."
The Cats released a statement on Friday confirming their leading goal-kicker will miss the trip to Sydney in round 16 but has "been cleared of any initial concerns".
Cameron will continue to be assessed and monitored by the club's medical staff.
In the immediate aftermath of Thursday night's match, Geelong coach Chris Scott said Cameron's injury and the near 10-minute wait for him to be assessed and taken off the ground had "shaken" Cats players.
But they hung tough in wet conditions at GMHBA Stadium and steamrolled flag fancies Melbourne with a six-goal burst at the start of the final term, reigniting their premiership defence in the process.
Rohan was visibly upset about injuring his teammate in a marking contest but refocused and kicked three crucial goals in a low-scoring affair, which Geelong won 11.12 (78) to 8.15 (63).
"Because he is the person that he is, it did rattle him, and I kind of respect him more for that because he's not a sociopath," Scott said.
"He's got some empathy for one of his best friends, who he's accidentally knocked out.
"The way he could refocus on what the team needed was very admirable."
While Cameron will miss the encounter with Sydney at the SCG, Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield is a chance to return from injury.
Dangerfield wanted to play against Melbourne - a week after suffering a cracked rib and a partially collapsed lung - but was overruled by club medical staff.
"He would've played tonight but he needs to be saved from himself," Scott said.
"The good news is the medical staff have said the reason for him not playing tonight will be not a concern even in the next couple of days.
"That's more around his lung issue. The other associated pain, he would've been cleared to play with that."
Australian Associated Press
