Melbourne defender Cale Morton could be out of action for up to 10 weeks after suffering a knee injury in an AFL practice match.

The highly-regarded Demons half-back tore the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the final term of Saturday's loss to Essendon at Princes Park.

Scans on Sunday confirmed the injury, but the Demons are yet to decide how to manage it.

"A final decision on the rehabilitation and the length of time Cale will miss will be made on Monday, following further examinations of the knee and consultation between Cale and the medical team," the club said in a statement.

A PCL tear is a better result than a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, which automatically means a reconstruction that can put a player out of action for more than nine months.

But it is still a major blow to the Demons, with Morton missing only one game last season.

The 20-year-old has played 40 games and finished equal-ninth last year in their best-and-fairest voting.

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