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Geelong now has the option - but is not obligated - to promote a rookie but said yesterday it would not elevate a player for the sake of it unless they were in line for senior selection.

Podsiadly, 28, declared in December last year he was in a better position to press for an AFL game now than when he was originally rookie-listed by Essendon a decade ago.

The Cats threw the veteran key forward a football lifeline in last year's rookie draft, selecting him as a mature-age rookie after a dominant season as captain of the club's VFL team.

Brown recently underwent surgery on his troublesome left leg to remove a bone spur and the plate that was inserted after his sickening injury last year.

He is expected to resume running in six weeks, with a return to football earmarked for around 12 weeks.

Geelong last year promoted Shane Mumford and Jeremy Laidler to its senior list after Matthew Egan and Josh Hunt were sidelined with season-long injuries.