Geelong has decided not to play injured skipper and No.1 ruckman Steven King again this AFL season.

King has missed the past four matches with an inflamed Achilles tendon he has been nursing since round three.

With Geelong long out of the finals race, club doctors on Tuesday decided it would be better for his long-term playing future if he focussed on recovering from the injury.

"It is pretty frustrating," King told The Age.

"I was hoping after a few weeks off and some rehab that it might improve, but it just got to the stage where I think I need a bit of time off to get it right.

"And I guess with no prospect of us playing finals this year, it is the best decision to get it right now and be ready for pre-season."

Coach Mark Thompson said King's injury had played havoc with the Cats' structure through the season.

"It's tragic really, because we just rely on him so much," he said.

"Just his work on the ground in the stoppages has been an enormous loss.

"And really, he has been limited in what he can do since round three."

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