GEELONG is not concerned about a knock that saw star midfielder Steve Johnson finish an outstanding return to football on crutches in a VFL practice match on Saturday.

 

Johnson, who has battled an ongoing foot injury through the pre-season, kicked three goals and dominated through the midfield against Collingwood's VFL team at Simonds Stadium.

 

However, he left the ground halfway through the third quarter following a heavy knock and didn’t return, leaving the ground on crutches.

 

Johnson, who played approximately 50 minutes, said he had suffered a cork just above his right knee, but he was hopeful of playing in the Cats' final NAB Challenge match.

 

"It's not ideal [but] I probably wasn't going to play too much longer anyway," he told the club's website. 

 

"I probably could have tried to go back on and keep playing, but it's important that I still get a lot of training under my belt.

 

"I thought the best thing for me is to ice it up and hopefully I can do the main training session this week."

 

Despite his otherwise excellent return to football, Johnson said he had still felt rusty on Saturday, in a match that also featured returning AFL-listed players Hamish McIntosh and Josh Cowan. 

 

"I've been training and doing a fair bit of running, but it's all a little bit different when you get into a match situation," Johnson said. 

 

"I blew out the cobwebs a little bit today and hopefully I can go on and play Carlton in the next NAB Challenge game and that prepares me for round one."

 

McIntosh, who was playing his first game for the pre-season following knee surgery to remove cartilage, completed a full game unscathed and impressed in the ruck with 29 hit-out, 17 touches and two goals.

 

VFL coach Paul Hood predicted the 30-year-old would push for selection against the Blues following the strong run.

 

"His hit-outs were great and he found the ball around the ground," Hood told AFL.com.au.

 

"There's one NAB Challenge game left for the Cats, so I'm sure he'll be discussed by the AFL match committee."

 

Hood was also encouraged by the form of luckless midfielder Josh Cowan, who played his first game since 2013 following three Achilles tendon operations.   

 

"Josh had a terrific day, you wouldn't have known he's missed the amount of footy he has over the last couple of years," Hood said.

 

"He just looked like any other guy playing his first game for the season.

 

"Credit to Josh and the rehab team around him for the way they've been able to get him back up."