Geelong midfielder Billie Smedts will require a shoulder reconstruction and will be sidelined for at least four months.

Smedts dislocated his left shoulder at training on Monday, and scans have revealed damage that will require surgery.

“This is a setback for Billie, who had been training strongly over the summer,” Geelong’s general manager of football Steve Hocking said.

“Injuries are never easy particularly during this time of the year. Billie will be resilient and work through this, as he has done before when he has suffered setbacks.

“He will miss the remainder of the pre-season but is likely to be available in May. We are confident that the surgery and rehab will strengthen Billie’s shoulder and allow him to play without this being an on-going issue.”

Smedts has played 37 games and kicked 18 goals since debuting in 2012.