Top Essendon midfielder Mark McVeigh might be ready for round one of the AFL regular season after good news on his ankle injury.

McVeigh underwent scans on Monday and they showed he suffered a grade-one strain in the second term of Friday night's pre-season win over Brisbane.

He has endured a bad run with injuries and McVeigh clearly thought it was far more serious as he limped from the field.

He will be out for at least a fortnight, but no more than a month.

Meanwhile, injuries have stalled the AFL pre-seasons of Hawthorn premiership players Campbell Brown, Stephen Gilham and Grant Birchall.

The trio were hurt during Sunday's NAB Cup quarter-final loss to Carlton at Etihad Stadium.

Scans have cleared Gilham of ligament or meniscus damage after he hyper-extended his left knee.

But he has suffered bone bruising and will need further assessment.

The Hawks are currently unsure how long he will be out of action.

Brown is out for two to three weeks with a sprained ankle and Birchall has a hamstring injury, putting him out of action for three weeks.

Hawthorn already have several top players still to return during the pre-season.

The fresh injuries to Gilham, Brown and Birchall will further weaken the Hawks defence.

They are already without key backman Trent Croad, who will not be ready for round one as he continues to recover from off-season foot surgery.

Luke Hodge, who won the Norm Smith Medal in last year's grand final for his outstanding game off half-back, is yet to return from shoulder surgery.

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