MELBOURNE vice-captain Max Gawn took a tumble on Sunday, severely rolling his ankle in the second quarter of his side’s clash with the Lions.

The 27-year-old returned to the field after half-time to run out most of the game but pulled up sore in the aftermath.

Gawn went in for scans on his swollen ankle on Monday morning and Elite Performance Manager David Misson says the results look to be positive.

“It’s pretty good news actually – he’s got no structural damage, no fracture or anything like that,” Misson told Melbourne Media.

“It’s just a pretty decent rolled ankle.”

With a seven-day break before the Dees’ Round 16 match against Carlton, Gawn will be racing the clock to prove his fitness come next Sunday.

“He’s still got a fair bit of swelling so that’s going to be the battle this week – to get the swelling down and get his range back,” Misson said.

“It’s likely that we’re going to backend his week, but we’re quietly confident that he’s going to get up.”

Although Gawn’s setback isn’t ideal, the minority of the injury is a positive and Misson said the ruckman was as well placed as anyone to return in a short period of time.

“Max is an absolute professional and he looks after his body incredibly well, so he’ll recover well and give himself every opportunity to play,” Misson said.

If Gawn is unable to get up next weekend, Braydon Preuss looms as a likely inclusion after a strong run of form in the VFL.