GEELONG is confident Cory Gregson will overcome his foot injury and return to the AFL in 2018.
The 20-year-old recently underwent further surgery to repair a navicular stress fracture in his foot and was initially expected to start running again in 12 weeks.
However, Cats coach Chris Scott said he was much more optimistic about the prognosis for Gregson than he was a month ago when he was told the forward would not resume playing until next season.
"The feedback from the surgeon most recently has been that what was a 12-week recovery is more like an eight week [recovery] now so he has got some good news, which he needed because he had a series of unfortunate events with that foot but he has stayed really positive," Scott said.
The coach moved to reassure observers concerned that the nature of Gregson's injury could put his AFL career at risk.
"He's contracted with us for next year. We're very optimistic he is going to be a good player for us," Scott said.
Gregson played 20 games in his first season but has not played since round 14, 2016 having battled to overcome injury stalling his career on 29 games.
"It has been a complicated and drawn out process but the feedback is still unequivocal that once this acute issue has heeled, he won't have ongoing trouble with it," Scott said.
"We're really confident he will be an AFL player for us next year."
