JACK Viney has got through training on Saturday and has been named in Melbourne’s 22 for Monday’s Queen’s Birthday clash against Collingwood at the MCG.
Viney and former Magpie Ben Kennedy have been included and named on the final interchange, along with first-year player Clayton Oliver and powerful small forward Dean Kent.
James Harmes, who received a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination in round seven, has been left out of the side and relegated to an emergency.
Ball-winner Viv Michie and former co-captain Jack Grimes, who were both added to the initial squad, have also been named emergencies.
As announced on Thursday night, goalsneak Jeff Garlett was omitted from the side, which lost to Hawthorn by 18 points at the MCG last round.
It’s the first time Garlett has been left out of the team since joining Melbourne at the end of the 2014 season.
Remarkably, Viney is back in the side after missing just one match with a fractured knucklebone.
He would’ve at least missed last round, due to a one-match suspension for striking Port Adelaide’s Brad Ebert during Melbourne’s loss to the Power at TIO Traeger Park Oval in round 10. But the surprising news – given Viney was expected to miss a month – came about after he received a positive report from his surgeon last Monday.
Grimes has yet to add to his 98 AFL matches this year, despite producing some strong football with Casey this year.
He has been on the cusp of selection all season and will now be an emergency for the ninth time this year.
Michie has played three matches this season – from rounds seven to nine – and will now be an emergency for the third consecutive week.
Like Grimes, Michie has been one of Casey’s best performers in 2016.
Kennedy, who crossed to Melbourne from Collingwood at the end of last season, has played every match in 2016, except last round.
But he was arguably Casey’s best in its win over Port Melbourne at Casey Fields last Sunday, kicking three goals and notching up 30 disposals.
Melbourne will be playing Collingwood for the second time this season and aiming for its third win in a row over the Pies.
Melbourne team: round 12
B: Jayden Hunt, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB: Billy Stretch, Oscar McDonald, Josh Wagner
C: Tomas Bugg, Christian Petracca, Bernie Vince
HF: Jack Trengove, Jack Watts, Aaron vandenBerg
F: Sam Frost, Jesse Hogan, Chris Dawes
Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson
I/C: Jack Viney, Clayton Oliver, Dean Kent, Ben Kennedy
Emg: Viv Michie, Jack Grimes, James Harmes
In: Jack Viney, Ben Kennedy
Out: Jeff Garlett, James Harmes
