Gary Rohan hit with another major blow after shocking skull surgery sent the internet wild

Geelong have delisted premiership players Gary Rohan and Brandan Parfitt just days after their heartbreaking preliminary-final defeat.

The pair join retired greats Tom Hawkins and Zach Tuohy in exiting the club this off-season.

Rohan was restricted to 12 games this season due to injury and form.

The 33-year-old was unavailable for last Saturday's thriller against the Brisbane Lions after suffering a fractured skull during the Cats' VFL semi-final defeat.

Rohan played 98 games for the Cats, including the 2022 grand final win, after crossing from Sydney at the end of 2018.

The dynamic forward made 106 appearances for the Swans, taking his career tally to 204.

Midfielder Parfitt leaves Geelong after 130 games since debuting in 2017, but played just 18 since being the sub in the 2022 grand final.

'This time of year is always difficult and to farewell seven great teammates is never easy,' Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie said.

'Both members of our 2022 Premiership team, Brandan and Gary have had a profound on-field impact in the hoops, but it can't be overstated the influence they both have had on their teammates and the club more broadly.

'They have both been incredible for our football program and the wider Geelong community.'

Rohan went viral earlier this month after a photo of the footy star with his gruesome skull injury did the rounds on social media.

Rohan showed up at Geelong's run last week to do some light work as his teammates prepared themselves for Saturday's preliminary final against Brisbane at the MCG.

The 33-year-old displayed a huge scar across his head with 30 staples visible.

The Cats veteran copped an accidental elbow to the head during the first quarter of Geelong's VFL semi-final loss against Southport just over a week ago.

Despite not needing assistance to get to the change rooms, he was taken to hospital for further assessment, where scans confirmed the worst.

He later shared a harrowing update and a photo of him lying in a hospital bed being comforted by his wife Madi.

American sports network ESPN has since shared images of Rohan training with staples in his head on social media, and fans could not believe what they were seeing.

'Bro should not be on the field,' one stunned Instagram user commented.

'Them Aussie Rules guys are on a whole different level of toughness and craziness,' one wrote.

'NBA players would've been 6 feet under,' said another.

'This is why women outlive us,' posted a fourth.

'Get him off the field,' said another.

'Are the guy's elbows made out of knives?' another asked, referring to the player who gave Rohan the injury.

Many US fans also compared the Cats star to NFL star Tua Tagovailoa in their replies.

Tagovailoa will miss at least the next four NFL games after sustaining his fourth diagnosed concussion in five years in Miami's 31-10 loss to Buffalo last weekend.

Another commenter measured NBA superstar LeBron James against Rohan and found the American wanting.

'Lebron out here flopping cuz someone slapped his head and this warrior is out here with a broken skull,' they wrote.

It was another frightening moment for a quarterback, who has a long history of head injuries and has left many calling for him to retire aged just 26.