ADELAIDE forward Jason Poplyzia could miss the rest of the season after scans revealed on Monday he has bruising to the brain.
Porplyzia was knocked unconscious and also reinjured his right shoulder when he was involved in a collision with Carlton's Steven Browne during the second term of Adelaide's eight-point win at AAMI Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The extent of the injury was revealed when he visited a neurosurgeon on Monday.
Adelaide football operations general manager John Reid said Porplyzia could miss up to a month, which if the sixth-placed Crows don't secure a finals position, could end his 2008 season.
"This injury will sideline Jason for three to four weeks and he is expected to make a full recovery in that time," Reid said.
"The specialist will need to rescan and give the all-clear before Jason resumes playing.
"In the meantime, he will have most of this week off and resume light duties next week."
It was just Porplyzia's second match back after he missed round 16 with his shoulder injury. Yet remarkably, after he was initially listed as indefinite on the injury list, Porplyzia returned in round 17 to kick a match-winning five goals against the Swans at the SCG.
Porplyzia, 23, has played 17 of his 43 AFL matches this season and his fine form has seen him touted as a potential All-Australian small forward.