MELBOURNE'S Pat McKenna has suffered a setback with the young defender to be sidelined for up to two months with a serious hamstring injury.
However, there is better news for key recruit Michael Hibberd who is slated to return from an Achilles complaint via the VFL against Williamstown on Easter Monday.
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Midfielder Angus Brayshaw (head knock) will be available to face Geelong at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Hibberd, who was traded from Essendon in the off-season, managed just one appearance in JLT Community Series before being struck down by the lingering injury.
The game against the Seagulls on April 17 is round one of the VFL season and high performance manager Dave Missson said the versatile defender was nearing a return to the field.
"He's (Hibberd) doing really well in rehab. He’s doing some quality sessions and we’ve earmarked him to play VFL round one, which is AFL round four," Misson said.
Traded from Greater Western Sydney at the end of last season in an exchange for draft picks, McKenna did not play a game in his two seasons at the Giants where he was originally taken with pick No.23 in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft.
He suffered the hamstring injury while playing for Casey in a VFL practice match against Box Hill on Saturday and it was originally thought he may have been out for longer.
The 20-year-old was hampered by Achilles and hip injuries in his first season at the Giants, while he missed just one game with a knee issue last year.
"We thought it was a pretty serious one, potentially requiring surgery, but he consulted the surgeon last night (Monday), who felt that conservative rehab was the way to go," Misson said of McKenna's hamstring injury.
"He'll probably be six to eight weeks, I reckon."
Powerful forward Aaron vandenBerg's heel injury is tracking slower than projected and he will remain on the sidelines for the next 6-8 weeks, according to Misson.
"Aaron's come out of the moon boot and will look to run late next week,” Misson said.
"He's going to definitely need at least six weeks from then."
Speedy forward Jay Kennedy-Harris, who broke his arm at training in March, has been cleared to return to the field and will do so in the VFL against Williamstown.
Melbourne injury list: round three
Angus Brayshaw (head knock) – available
Colin Garland (knee) – season
Michael Hibberd (Achilles) – 1-2 weeks
Jesse Hogan (suspension) – 2 weeks
Jay Kennedy-Harris (arm) – available
Liam Hulett (hip) – 1 week
Mitch King (knee) – 3 weeks
Jordan Lewis (suspension) – 3 weeks
Pat McKenna (hamstring) – 6-8 weeks
Joel Smith (shoulder) – 3-4 months
Aaron vandenBerg (heel) – 6-8 weeks
Mitch White (ankle) – available
