MELBOURNE has lost Colin Garland with an ankle injury for Saturday’s ‘home’ clash against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
Garland has been replaced by versatile tall Cameron Pedersen, who will line up against his former team for the first time in a home and away match. The leader suffered his injury during the third quarter of last Saturday night’s 19-point loss to the Brisbane Lions at TIO Stadium.
No other changes have been made by the Demons.
Defender Daniel Nicholson, tough-nut Luke Tapscott and ruckman Jake Spencer have been named the emergencies.
General manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said the loss of Garland was a tough blow for the Dees, given he has played every match this season and been one of Melbourne’s best. The Tasmanian has thrust his name up as a leading contender for this year’s Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy.
“Although Col was cleared of significant damage to his ankle, he was unable to train this week and unfortunately, he’ll miss this week’s game,” Mahoney told melbournefc.com.au.
“Col has been in terrific form all year and we’re hoping he’ll be available next week.
“Cam Pedersen comes into the side and he’s been in very good form in the VFL for a number of weeks. He came up to Darwin, as our carry over [player] last week, and he will come into the side and play a role for us down back in Col’s absence.”
Pedersen, who has been an emergency for the past four rounds, has played seven matches in his first season with the Demons.
Nicholson and Tapscott have played 10 matches each in 2013, and Spencer has featured in three games this year. The big man has been an emergency every other week, except the round 11 Queen’s Birthday loss against Collingwood.
Round 18 Melbourne team
B: Lynden Dunn, Cameron Pedersen, Dean Terlich
HB: Tom McDonald, James Frawley, Mitch Clisby
C: Jack Viney, Jack Trengove, Jack Grimes
HF: Shannon Byrnes, Jack Watts, Jeremy Howe
F: Aaron Davey, Chris Dawes, Jack Fitzpatrick
FOLL: Max Gawn, Colin Sylvia, Nathan Jones
I/C: Jimmy Toumpas, Sam Blease, Matt Jones, Dean Kent
EMG: Daniel Nicholson, Luke Tapscott, Jake Spencer
IN: Cameron Pedersen
OUT: Colin Garland (ankle)
