Young Crow Brodie Smith will miss eight weeks after X-rays confirmed he sustained a fractured collarbone in the Club’s win over Port Adelaide.

Smith suffered the injury in a collision with Power defender Jasper Pittard early in the third match at AAMI Stadium on Sunday. Remarkably, the 21-year-old was involved in another piece of play, in which he took an overhead mark, before making his way off the ground.

It’s unlikely the injury will require surgery.

Coach Brenton Sanderson said Smith, one of Adelaide’s best players in the 2012 finals series, would be difficult to replace.

“It’s disappointing. Brodie is such an important young player for us and had a fantastic year in 2012,” Sanderson said.

“It’ll test our depth, but we saw on Sunday we’ve got some players who can stand up. Knowing Brodie, he’ll be very diligent in his rehab and will work his way back into the side early in the season.”

Smith has played 36 AFL games since being selected with pick No.14 in the 2012 National Draft.