High draft pick Dom Tyson suffered a partial dislocation of his patella tendon during a gruelling pre-season training camp for Melbourne before Christmas.
Tyson, 23, has been sidelined by the knee injury but the Demons say he's expected to be available for the club's pre-season matches, starting with the clash against the Western Bulldogs at Whitten Oval on 18 February.
Melbourne's two-day training camp was designed to test the players "physically and mentally". But Tyson has been moved into the club's rehabilitation group and will miss some pre-season training.
"The entire playing group went through a two-day camp in the lead up to Christmas. This camp was a highly valued experience by the group to test them both physically and mentally," a Melbourne spokesman said.
"Dom had completed an excellent pre-Christmas period in the lead up to this camp.
"We know this is unfortunate but we are confident in Dom's ability to rehab the injury and make a strong impact for the club in the lead up to round one."
Tyson played 21 matches last season for a career total of 71.
He was the No.3 draft pick overall for Greater Western Sydney in 2011 before being traded to Melbourne ahead of the 2014 season.