MELBOURNE has made just one change for Saturday’s clash against Geelong Cats at Simonds Stadium.
Speedster Sam Blease returns from an ankle injury, which forced him to miss last round’s loss against the Sydney Swans at the MCG, while livewire David Rodan has been left out of the side.
Rodan has been named an emergency, along with midfielder Jordie McKenzie and versatile tall Cameron Pedersen.
Blease has played six matches this season and Rodan has featured in eight.
McKenzie has been sidelined for the past four weeks with an elbow injury, but hasn’t played since round 11 against Collingwood. He has played eight matches in 2013.
Pedersen has also been an emergency for the past two weeks and has made seven appearances in his first year at the club.
Three Demons will celebrate milestones this round.
Colin Sylvia and Nathan Jones will play their 150th game each and Jeremy Howe will reach the 50-game milestone. Howe has not missed a match since he made his AFL debut in round 11, 2011.
Sylvia made his debut in round nine, 2004 after being the third player selected in the 2003 NAB AFL Draft. Injuries halted his milestone from being achieved earlier.
He has become one of Melbourne’s most important players and has the ability to turn a match, given his immense talent.
Remarkably, Jones has missed just five games since he played his first match for the Demons against the Western Bulldogs in round 17, 2006.
The vice-captain has become a highly durable and consistent performer – and a much-admired Demon – having won Melbourne’s best and fairest last year.
Round 16 Melbourne team
B: Lynden Dunn, Colin Garland, Dean Terlich
HB: Tom McDonald, James Frawley, Mitch Clisby
C: Jimmy Toumpas, Jack Trengove, Jack Grimes
HF: Sam Blease, Jack Watts, Matt Jones
F: Jack Fitzpatrick, Chris Dawes, Jeremy Howe
FOLL: Max Gawn, Colin Sylvia, Nathan Jones
I/C: Shannon Byrnes, Daniel Nicholson, Dean Kent, Aaron Davey
EMG: Jordie McKenzie, David Rodan, Cameron Pedersen
IN: Sam Blease
OUT: David Rodan
