Collingwood key forward Chris Dawes suffered a broken knuckle in the AFL club's win over Hawthorn and will be out for four to six weeks, the Magpies say.

Dawes, who has kicked 21 goals in 13 matches in 2011, will have surgery on Monday afternoon.

He's averaged 15 possessions and five marks per game and was praised by coach Mick Malthouse after Sunday's 41-point win over the Hawks at the MCG.

The second-placed Magpies have a 12-1 record this season and face North Melbourne (10th) on Sunday at the MCG.

Dawes is second at Collingwood for contested marks this year with 21, behind fellow key forward Travis Cloke.

The 23-year-old Dawes has played 43 games including last year's premiership win over St Kilda.

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