MELBOURNE’S Jay Kennedy Harris will spend up to 12 weeks on the sidelines after a severe hyperextension of his knee.

The 23-year-old sustained the injury during the second quarter of the Demons’ JLT Community Series loss to Brisbane on Saturday afternoon, leaving the field on a stretcher.

With initial fears over his anterior crucial ligament, elite performance manager David Misson said the outcome could have been much worse.

“Luckily, his ACL was okay, but he’s got pretty significant bone bruising on that knee,” Mission told Melbourne Media.

“He’s probably 12 weeks before he’s back to play.”

James Harmes was a further concern to come out of the clash at Casey Fields, with the midfielder suffering a compound dislocation of his little finger.

Harmes looked to be in a great deal of pain following a tackle attempt on Brisbane’s Lachie Neale, calling for assistance immediately and then not taking any further part in the game.

But after undergoing surgery on Saturday night, Misson is confident of a short recovery time.

“We expect him to be running at the end of the week, back doing ball work and full training next week, and able to play in round one,” Misson said.

Braydon Preuss will also spend this week in the rehab group as he recovers from a minor adductor strain.

The ruckman left the field during the Casey Demons’ practice match, which was held prior to Melbourne’s hit out, and is set to return to the main group next week.

Meanwhile, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney and Jake Melksham are all on track for the season opener after successful VFL appearances.

Despite a couple of niggles for the co-captains – Viney sustained a corked thigh in his IT band while Jones received one in the calf – the pair will join Melksham in full training.

“All of those guys will train on Friday and be available for round one,” he said.

“We’re pretty pleased with the minutes they got through and how they pulled up.”

David Misson – Injury Update

Jay Kennedy Harris – 12 weeks

“It was a significant knee hyperextension issue. Luckily, his ACL was okay, but he’s got pretty significant bone bruising on that knee. He’s probably 12 weeks before he’s back to play.”

James Harmes – one week

“He had a compound dislocation of that finger, which was operated on Saturday night. He’s looking really good, so we expect him to be running at the end of the week, back doing ball work and full training next week, and able to play in round one.”

Braydon Preuss – one week

“On the scan, it showed to be a minor adductor strain. He will be in rehab this week, but we’re looking to get him up to train next week and be available for round one.”

Aaron vandenBerg – available

“vanders has had foot ankle issues for most of his career. His standard recovery post-game is to really keep off his legs, so having Family Day on the Sunday, we thought in his interest it was better if he just stayed off his legs. He’s in no danger of missing round one.”

Joel Smith – test

“Joel had a pretty significant groin injury in the game – he just landed in a marking contest and pulled up really sore. Because we were two down on the bench, unfortunately we had to keep Joel going. We played him deep forward which probably didn’t help his groin. He’s pulled up pretty sore, so we’ll have to assess him towards the end of the week about what his reloading plan is.”

Bayley Fritsch – available

"Bayley had a significant hip pointer in the game – he copped a whack right in that hip. Again, because we were two down on the bench, we needed to keep Bayley going, but he pulled up okay. He’ll do a little bit of running tomorrow probably, will still train on Friday and be in no doubt for round one."

Nathan Jones, Jack Viney and Jake Melksham – available

“They all did really well. Jack got a corky (corked thigh) in his IT band, just above his knee – that’s why he’s walking around with a bit of strapping on. Nathan got a corky in the calf, but all of those guys will train on Friday and be available for round one. We’re pretty pleased with the minutes they got through and how they pulled up."

Jack Viney was one of a number of key players who featured for Casey (Photo: Darrian Traynor)