MELBOURNE recruit Jack Grimes is set to play his first match this year, when he lines up for the Sandringham seconds against Werribee at Bartercard Oval on Sunday.

Grimes returns from the long-term injury list, having been sidelined with a groin problem this season. His reinstatement on the primary list means high-flying forward Russell Robertson is now on the long-term injury list, due to his season-ending achilles injury.

This means promoted rookie Austin Wonaeamirri can remain on the primary list for the rest of the 2008 season and be eligible for every senior Melbourne match.

Football operations manager Ross Monaghan explained the situation.

"The logistics are that Russell Robertson has been transferred onto the long-term injury list and Jack Grimes comes back onto the primary list from the long-term list. Russell's movement onto the long-term injury list allows Austin Wonaeamirri to stay on the primary list. That's good for 'Aussie', but bad luck for 'Robbo' and fantastic for Jack," Monaghan said.

Monaghan said Grimes, who is viewed as an outstanding long-term prospect for the club, will play "about 40 to 50 per cent game-time" in his first appearance for the club, via its affiliate Sandringham.

"He came to the club with back and foot injuries, which we knew about. They were a result of some of his games in the latter periods of last year with the [Northern] Knights and we were prepared to take him with a long-term view," Monaghan told melbournefc.com.au.

"The fitness staff and medical staff decided to take him right back to develop a good fitness base, so he could make sure he could overcome all of his injuries before he actually even played one game.

"If we had been in a great hurry, he probably could have played even earlier than this, but the consensus among everyone was that Jack's part of our long-term future at the Melbourne footy club and we want to give him every opportunity to have a long-term career."

Monaghan said Grimes had been "fantastic" throughout his rehabilitation and was eagerly "looking forward to the run."

"He's realised where the club has taken him and he's been really diligent, especially with the fact that it would take some time before he played his first game," Monaghan said.

"Now he's got his opportunity to get out there and have a run, but there's absolutely no great expectation on him. We are not going to rush him back through Sandringham and try to get him into the Melbourne side – that's the last thing we're thinking about.

"We just want to get him out there and enjoying a bit of footy and get him playing the game he loves."

Selected at No.14 in last year's NAB AFL Draft – Melbourne's second selection in last year's meeting – Grimes was effectively the player who was obtained when former Demon Travis Johnstone was traded to the Brisbane Lions.

But Grimes was one of the most sought after players in last year's draft, having been an AIS/AFL Academy member, along with gaining All-Australian honours at last year's NAB AFL under 18 championships. He also ran a 15.1 beep test at the 2007 NAB AFL Draft Camp and his play has been likened to Brett Kirk of the Sydney Swans.