TOM McDonald got his side off to a flying start at the MCG on Sunday, slotting three goals in the opening term.

The key forward went on to boot six majors in just three quarters of footy, before going down with a knee injury prior to the final break.

It was a disappointing finish to a stellar afternoon, but McDonald remained in good spirits following Melbourne’s five-point victory over the Blues.

“It’s not too serious I don’t think, but it’s frustrating because I think I’ll probably miss a couple of weeks at least,” McDonald told Melbourne Media.

“We won’t know until we get some scans tomorrow, but I just had a bit of a clink in it and I feel like maybe chipped a bit of bone off or little tear in the meniscus.

“But fingers crossed, we think we’ve dodged some bad damage, but we don’t know yet.”

The 26-year-old’s equal career-high goal tally was accompanied by 20 disposals, and he was certainly enjoying himself out on the field.

“Bit of a sour end to it personally, but it was good to be running around having fun,” McDonald said.

“We had a lot of guys working together in the forward line. A lot of guys got a look at a goal or got involved because I feel like we were working for each other and blocking for each other.

“We all had joy from someone else doing well – it was just my turn today.

“It goes around, and other guys will bob up next week and the week after.”

McDonald wasn’t the only man stuck on the sidelines in the final term, sitting out the latter stages of the game alongside Marty Hore (collarbone) and Harry Petty (concussion).

The trio sat helplessly as Carlton stormed home to pinch the lead, before Jayden Hunt secured the four points for the Dees.

“You can’t do anything so you’re hoping and talking it through with the other guys,” McDonald said.

“From the bench we felt like we were in control still, and the boys said after the game that they were at a calm state and they were really poised.

“That’s a good sign of maturity I think, because you can really panic and go fast and rush, thinking you have to kick a goal in the next 30 seconds while there’s still two minutes to go.

“There’s good things to take out of it, while it was disappointing in the last quarter.”

McDonald will have scans on his knee on Monday, with a timeframe to be confirmed in the lead up to Round 17.