Essendon midfielder Mathew Stokes will miss at least three weeks of football after injuring his hamstring during Essendon's loss to Carlton.
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The former Cat signed up with the Bombers before the start of the season, after 12 Essendon players were banned for their involvement in the club's 2012 supplements program.
The 31-year-old has been a solid performer in the hastily pieced together side, averaging 19 possessions a match.
Essendon's website reported Stokes' hamstring had been sore during the match against the Blues on Sunday and scans had confirmed he had strained it.
High performance manager Justin Crow said he would miss at least three weeks of football while he recovered.
Stokes had retired at the end of 2015 and taken up a job with the AFL but was convinced to play another season of football, in part because his good friend and former Geelong teammate James Kelly had signed up.
After being recruited by the Bombers, Stokes said he would play for just one more season and would not return in 2017.
