Geelong midfielder Travis Varcoe will miss the start of the 2012 AFL season due to a foot injury.

Varcoe was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right foot on Tuesday, with the club’s football manager Neil Balme suggesting the dual premiership player will be sidelined for at least 10 weeks.

“It is a blow, but we expect he will only miss the start of the season proper,” Balme told the club’s website.

“The best course of action to correct the problem is for him to have surgery.

“It is unfortunate that he will miss around 10 weeks, but we will not rush his recovery.

“We have to be able to deal with injuries, and we expect other players will step up in Travis’s absence.”

The 23-year-old kicked three goals in last year’s grand final and played 24 games in the 2011 season, his pressure and pace being a regular sight in the Cats’ triumphs.

The pre-season blow will be a significant hurdle for Varcoe to overcome, although he has a track record for dealing with limited preparation.

He suffered a shoulder injury while in Ireland for the International Rules series in 2010, meaning his 2011 pre-season was delayed due to surgery.

He also missed the first five rounds of the 2010 season due to a broken thumb sustained in a pre-season match.

© AAP 2012

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