Veteran key defender Dustin Fletcher will need to stretch his great run of form for another month after Essendon confirmed backman Cale Hooker would likely miss at least three AFL games with a hamstring injury.

Fletcher, 35, was in vintage touch in Sunday night's win over St Kilda after he moved on to Saints forward Justin Koschitzke when Hooker hobbled off in the second quarter.

With Tayte Pears (broken arm) also still a fortnight away from returning, Fletcher's next likely task is playing on Richmond's Jack Riewoldt, who kicked four goals in his side's narrow loss to Hawthorn on Sunday.

Essendon play Richmond on Saturday night at the MCG.

Bombers football manager Paul Hamilton said on the club's website he expected Hooker to miss either three or four games, depending on the severity of the injury.

The Dons also suffered an injury blow in the VFL on Sunday, as ruckman Jason Laycock fractured a foot playing for the Bendigo Bombers.

Layock is likely to be sidelined for six weeks, whereas had he avoided injury he would now be on standby for a return to the senior side given No.1 ruck David Hille was reported.

Hille, who was booked for engaging in rough conduct on St Kilda's Brendon Goddard, is awaiting the match review panel's assessment of the incident.

"That's a disappointing result for (Laycock)," Hamilton said.

"He'd been playing quite well.

"In light of David Hille's report, it would have been handy to have him up and ready to go.

"We have to find out the extent of the injury, but we're saying it will be at least six weeks."

Essendon expect to be able to call on utility Nathan Lovett-Murray and small defender Henry Slattery, as both should overcome respective groin and shoulder injuries.

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