MELBOURNE youngster Joel Smith has undergone surgery to repair a dislocated shoulder and will be sidelined for up to four months.

Smith, who was injured in his debut against St Kilda in round one, had surgery on Tuesday, with the Demons hopeful he will return later in the season.

Defender Colin Garland also went under the knife on Tuesday for a traditional knee reconstruction after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.      

Garland, 28, suffered the injury in a VFL practice match in the last week of the pre-season and won't feature again in 2017.

Smith, who impressed over the pre-season, dislocated his left shoulder in the first quarter of Saturday's clash against the Saints.

Demons elite performance manager Dave Misson said the club decided surgery was the best option for the 21-year-old.

"We still expect to get some good footy out of Joel in the back half of the year," Misson said on the club's website.

"It’ll be three to four months, but he’ll be up and going by the end of that rehab period … he’ll have done a lot of running."

Misson said star ruckman Max Gawn would be fit to face Carlton at the MCG on Sunday after playing through a back complaint in round one.