HAVING succeeded with rooster combs and other remedies to repair Max Rooke's hamstring, Geelong will now consider whether alternative therapies could benefit defender Matthew Egan, whose season has been ended by a recurrence of a career-threatening injury to his foot.

In a terrible personal blow for the All-Australian centre half-back, scans on Monday confirmed the stress fractures of the navicular in his right foot had not healed.

The scans suggested further surgery was likely, but the club will also review what went wrong with the initial treatment, including whether surgery remains the best option and if other options should be explored.

Egan, injured in round 22 of last year's home-and-away season, was given a slim chance of returning for the grand final, but missed Geelong's record-breaking 119-point win over Port Adelaide.

The 24-year-old resumed training a month ago and was running freely, but began to have some discomfort last week and was sent for further scans by the club on Monday.

Coach Mark Thompson said Egan's foot was not healing and the player and club had no choice, except to "back right off" and let medical staff decide the most appropriate course of action.

"Generally, in footy, we race the process and try to create medical records as far as rehab … we try and get better and better at what we do," Thompson said.

"We succeed in some cases, but we fail in others and we haven't delivered, we haven't healed his foot yet, so we've got to go back and make sure it gets healed this time."

Thompson said Egan was a dedicated, strong-willed and positive person, but was rocked by the realisation he would play no part in the team's premiership defence.

"He's had bad luck, there's no doubt, but what do you say to the guy? He's not the only bloke in the world that has played football (who) has been injured long-term and it's a challenge, for sure, but if anyone is going to do it … Matthew is made of the right stuff," Thompson said.

"He's not positive at the moment because he's just got some bad news, but I'm sure he'll be able to cope with what's been thrown at him."

Club doctor Chris Bradshaw, due to return from overseas last night, will sit down with Egan and the medical staff to formulate the next phase of his treatment.

Egan's recent low-level training program began six months after his initial surgery in September.

"He was a little bit sore to start and then got a little bit better, had a little less pain, but the pain started coming back as he did more," Thompson said.

"He was running pretty hard last week and felt good. We ran him and unfortunately what's happened now is he's sore … we scanned him and we found some results and we've stopped him.

"In his best interests, we're just going to make sure he gets right … the welfare of the player is paramount."

Thompson said he was yet to talk to Egan about what role, if any, he could play during his rehabilitation.

Football operations manager Neil Balme said the injury was a tremendous personal setback for Egan.

"He is an All-Australian half-back, we are a better side with him playing and we wanted to see him playing again," Balme said.

"It's devastating for the kid, he played all last year and missed the grand final but would have expected he was back this year and now this happens.

"But if anyone can get over this he can, he is an outstanding character."

The injury is similar to that to Essendon champion James Hird, who overcame a similar problem and returned to playing at the top level after significant surgery.

Egan remains contracted to the Cats until the end of 2010.