MELBOURNE has included Sarah Jolly and Aliesha Newman for Friday night’s NAB AFL Women’s clash against GWS Giants at Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney.
But Shelley Scott is out of the side and has been named an emergency, due to a shoulder injury.
The courageous 28-year-old has been a fine player for Melbourne, but was touch and go to play against the Giants.
As expected, Melbourne has also lost Brooke Patterson with a hamstring injury.
In the lead-up to this round’s clash, Melbourne gained permission to add midfielder/forward Elise Strachan to its list.
Strachan, 25, from Bendigo, has been training with the squad and has been named an emergency.
Emma Humphries, Maddie Boyd, Aliesha Newman, Ainslie Kemp, Deanna Berry and Sarah Jolly have been named on the interchange.
Stephanie De Bortoli, Meg Downie and Pepa Randall remain sidelined.
Melbourne is aiming for its fourth consecutive win of the season, as it plays its first non-Victorian game for the season.
It will be the first of back-to-back trips on the road for the team, with its round six encounter against the Adelaide Crows at TIO Stadium in Darwin.
Melbourne AFLW team: round five
Backs: Jasmine Grierson, Mia-Rae Clifford, Katherine Smith
Half Backs: Daisy Pearce, Laura Duryea, Richelle Cranston
Centres: Harriet Cordner
Half Forwards: Karen Paxman, Alyssa Mifsud, Lily Mithen
Forwards: Sarah Lampard, Jessica Anderson, Cat Phillips
Followers: Lauren Pearce, Mel Hickey, Elise O’Dea
Interchange: Emma Humphries, Maddie Boyd, Aliesha Newman, Ainslie Kemp, Deanna Berry, Sarah Jolly
Emergences: Elise Strachan, Shelley Scott
Unavailable/injured: Stephanie De Bortoli, Meg Downie, Brooke Patterson, Pepa Randall
