CARLTON star Charlie Curnow has avoided the prospect of surgery following a knee injury sustained during the side's 104-point defeat to Adelaide on Saturday night.

Curnow left the field early in the third quarter after landing awkwardly in a marking contest, failing to return to the match, with scans revealing ligament damage and bone bruising.

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However, he will not undergo surgery and is expected to be fit for the start of pre-season.

“Scans have revealed just a slight strain in the medial ligament in his left knee and some slight bone bruising around the area, but the good news is Charlie won’t require surgery,” Carlton's new head of football Brad Lloyd told the club's website.

"Importantly, he is expected to return for the start of the upcoming 2019 pre-season campaign, so we will manage the injury conservatively until then and look forward to welcoming him back on the track when the players return.”

Jacob Weitering also left the match and failed to return in the third term due to concussion.