MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 28: Caleb Marchbank of the Blues looks on before the round 10 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Etihad Stadium on May 28, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Carlton defender Caleb Marchbank will miss at least the next three weeks of football after scans confirmed a hairline fracture in his right shoulder.

The 20-year-old suffered the injury in a marking contest during the Blues' loss to Carlton last weekend, with head of football Andrew McKay confirming Marchbank's time on the sidelines.

“Recent scans have revealed a hairline fracture of his scapula, meaning Caleb is expected to miss the next three to four weeks of football,” McKay told carltonfc.com.au. 

“The good news is it is stable, so he won’t require surgery. While it is disappointing for both us and Caleb, we are confident we will welcome him back to the field well and truly before the end of the season.” 

Marchbank, along with midifelder Jarrod Pickett, both made the move to Carlton at the end of last season in a trade with the Giants.

Since arriving at the Blues, the defender played in each of Carlton's first 14 games this season, and even earned himself a Rising Star nomination in their round six win over Sydney.