Heath Scotland will be out of action for three weeks after straining his calf in Carlton's disappointing loss to Port Adelaide at AAMI stadium on Saturday night.

The Carlton veteran, who was unlucky to miss All-Australian selection last year, has once again been in good form in 2012. The Blues will not only miss his run and sure delivery into the forward line, they will also miss his important leadership.

While not in the official leadership group, Scotland provides experience and is an unofficial leader, particular in recent games when only three of Carlton's seven-man leadership group have been playing. Judd, Jamison and Gibbs have carried the leadership load on the ground in recent weeks with Murphy, Carrazzo, Waite and Russell all out of the side.

The loss of Scotland is a further blow to the Blues adding to a long injury list. Marc Murphy, Andrew Carrazzo, Jarrad Waite, Lachie Henderson, Jeremy Laidler, Bret Thornton and Nick Duigan were joined on the injury list by Matthew Kreuzer, who was a late withdrawal with hamstring soreness, for the game against Port Adelaide.

Coach Brett said after the game he was hopeful a number of players will be right to return for Friday night's home game against Geelong at Etihad Stadium.