BATTERED Swan Alex Johnson has remained in Melbourne surrounded by his family as he waits for confirmation he's suffered another anterior cruciate ligament injury. 

Johnson, 26, was in tears on the bench after his "good" right knee buckled when he chased Melbourne's Jesse Hogan to the boundary in the first quarter of Sunday's clash at the MCG. 

It was his second game since the 2012 Grand Final after a long journey that has featured five reconstructions and a battle with infection in his left knee. 

While the Swans are yet to officially confirm the extent of Johnson's latest injury, they are bracing for the worst. 

WATCH Players 'clearly were feeling' for AJ

"He's with his family, the team flew back last night and we're about to review the game and he's in Melbourne with his family," Swans football manager Tom Harley told SEN on Monday morning. 

"There's no real further update in regard to scans or how he is mentally. He'll be spending some time with his folks and we'll let it play out in the next couple of days."

Johnson emerged at quarter-time to join his teammates for the huddle before returning to the rooms for the rest of Sunday's win, where he was comforted by parents Graham and Joan, and the club's welfare manager Dennis Carroll. 

Harley said they would give Johnson time before discussing his future with him. 

"It's an obvious question, but it won't happen really quickly," he said. 

"He started the game really well in the first quarter, he was important for us.

"He needs to make a decision first and foremost as to how he's going to attack it.

"It's clearly at least a 12-month rehab, he's done that before and he'll answer those questions himself and then at the right time he'll sit down with the club. 

"If I know him at all, I reckon he'll have a crack at it, but we just need to work our way through that respectfully and in the right time."

Swans players console Alex Johnson after the match. Picture: AFL Photos

Harley said Johnson had earned his spot and had shown he was still a valuable member of the team in his comeback this season. 

He also said the Swans would wait before considering the list management side of Johnson's situation.

"We haven't thought that far ahead yet and we'll let him spend some time to digest all of this, and at the right time we'll pick it up," he said. 

Meanwhile, defender Nick Smith will have scans on Monday morning on a high hamstring injury and is expected to miss a few weeks. 

"It's a war of attrition at the moment, and I think that's one of the biggest issues in the game, the injury toll," Harley said. 

"We're dealing with a few but hopefully we'll get Zak Jones back from suspension and Heath Grundy should be back in the mix as well.

"We've got a big fortnight ahead and we'll put out the best team we can."

Harley also responded to St Kilda's bold push to recruit Dan Hannebery by saying the Swans midfielder "certainly hasn't asked for a trade" and remains contracted to the club.