GEELONG big man Nathan Vardy is likely to have a traditional knee reconstruction, rather than one using the LARS method, this week.


Cats football manager Neil Balme said on Monday that Vardy was unlikely to play again this year.

"I think he's seeing the surgeon today and the decisions will be made after that," Balme said at Simonds Stadium.

"I think you'd predict that he won't play this year, which is sad for him and sad for us, but we all move on."

As for what type of surgery will be used on Vardy's knee, Balme said: "I think it would be pretty unlikely that we would not use the traditional method. But that hasn't yet been decided."

Vardy's latest injury continues the 22-year-old's terrible run of luck.

He played just two games in 2012 after struggling to overcome the hip injury that threatened to end his career the year before.

Further hip and groin problems interrupted his build-up to the 2013 season, and he was unsighted at AFL level until round 10 last year.

It seemed the tide had turned when Vardy produced a number of impressive performances in the ruck late last season.

But he now he finds himself preparing for another long stint in the rehab group.

"I think going through the hip thing has probably made him much more resilient," Balme said.

"It's changed the way he is around this place. He was just a young colt when he came in, and I think that's helped him understand how important the game is to him.

"So it is quite sad and quite tragic that he's going to have to miss another 12 months, but I've spoken to him a couple of times and he's actually very good.

"He'll be fine. I've got no doubt."

Vardy's teammates have been hit hard by the news that he won't play again until next year.

"Those things always do (knock the players around)," Balme said. "They're pretty close and they work pretty hard together, and whilst they compete pretty hard for spots, they're very much a team.

"So everyone's pretty upset by it. But good organisations move on. Nathan's got a big part to play in that as well – how positive he is around the place."

Geelong now has a number of emerging stars on its injury list.

Dashing half-forward Steven Motlop is unlikely to play before round five after having surgery to fix a bout of knee tendonitis, while midfielder Allen Christensen will miss the first half of the season after back surgery.

Forward Shane Kersten, who is among the candidates to replace Vardy in the forward line, has also had an interrupted pre-season.

"He had a little bit of knee surgery at the end of the season, and he's sort of battled to come back from that," Balme said.

"He comes good, then he gets a bit sore, then works again and gets a bit sore. So we've had to back off a little bit.

"But it's only a minor thing. I think he's had some fluid drawn off it. He probably won't be available this week … but he's not that far away."

The Cats play Melbourne in Alice Springs on Friday evening, and skipper Joel Selwood is a good chance to line up after recovering from his foot surgery.

Ruckman Hamish McIntosh is also set to be named, while Jordan Murdoch, who has been troubled by back soreness during the pre-season, will be considered after upping his training load in the past week.