MELBOURNE draftee Sam Blease has fractured his fibula in a schoolyard football game and is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Blease, 18, sustained the injury at lunchtime on Thursday and will require surgery.

General manager of football operations Chris Connolly confirmed Blease had been playing with school mates.

"He was tackled and fell awkwardly when the injury occurred," Connolly said in a statement released by the club.

"This is obviously a setback, but we see Sam as a long-term player for this club.

"We will now begin to prepare him for the commencement of the 2010 pre-season."

The midfielder was selected by the Demons with their second selection (No. 17 overall) in the 2008 NAB AFL Draft.

Like No. 1 pick Jack Watts, who attends Brighton Grammar, Blease was committed to completing his studies at Yarra Valley Grammar before making inroads in his AFL career.

Because of a staggered pre-season program, he was yet to play for VFL affiliate Casey Scorpions.