Champion Essendon centre-half forward, Scott Lucas, will miss up to 12-weeks of football with an MRI scan this morning confirming a Grade 3 tear of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) in his left knee.

Essendon doctor, Bruce Reid, said the result was what the club expected following its post-game diagnosis.

As a result of today's scans, the anticipated recovery times remain the same and Lucas will spend the next 4-6 weeks resting the leg and doing light recovery work before getting into full scale strengthening work.

If all goes to plan, Lucas is expected to be available for most of the second half of the season.

Lucas will have his injury reviewed by a specialised surgeon next week as a precaution, but the club doesn't expect him to require surgery.