Melbourne defensive rock Steven May will miss at least one match with fractured ribs while fellow key back Jake Lever has been cleared of major knee damage and will push to face Port Adelaide.
May was substituted out of Saturday's win over the Hawks and taken to hospital following a nasty collision with Hawthorn's Mabior Chol.
The 32-year-old has been ruled out of Saturday night's blockbuster at
the Adelaide Oval, when his teammates will have to handle Port key forwards Charlie Dixon, Todd Marshall and Jeremy Finlayson.
“Steven was in a lot of pain following that heavy contact in the second quarter of Saturday’s game, so we sent him off to hospital for some scans,” Melbourne football boss Alan Richardson said.
“The results of these showed two fractures to his ribs, and a small transverse process fracture.
“At this stage, Steven will miss this week’s match against Port Adelaide.
"We will continue to monitor his pain and function following that, in the lead up to our round four game.”
A transverse process fracture is a type of spinal injury.
Lever spent most of Saturday's second half on the bench nursing his injured right knee, but scans have delivered good news.
"Pleasingly, Jake has been cleared of major injury to his right knee,” Richardson said.
"He, instead, looks to have irritated a joint under his kneecap.
“We will see how he responds this week at training, but we are optimistic he will be available for Saturday night’s game in Adelaide.”
The Demons are playing both Adelaide teams away in consecutive weeks.
