Mellington suffered a groin strain against Redan in the McDonald's Ballarat Football League at Alfredton on Friday.

He needed assistance to get to his feet after being tackled in the second quarter and did not take any more part in the match.

Ballarat went into the encounter without Nick Weightman (hamstring), Nick O'Farrell (broken nose) and Tom Thewlis (shoulder) - all injured in its first round loss to Sebastopol.

With the Swans' next game not until Saturday, May 4 - when they meet reigning premier East Point - O'Farrell is the most likely to return.

Ballarat coach Joe Carmody rates Weightman only a 50-50 chance, saying no chances would be taken with the first-year recruit.

The extent of the Thewlis injury is still not known, but he expected to be sidelined form sometime.

The Swans will need replace GWV Rebels under-18 duo Jed Hill and Patrick Glanford for that game.

A Rebels bye enabled them to play for Ballarat on Friday.