MELBOURNE has lost co-captains Jack Grimes (collarbone) and Jack Trengove (calf) for Sunday’s clash against the Gold Coast Suns at the MCG, but has named key recruit Chris Dawes for his first match for the club.
The Demons have also added veterans Aaron Davey and David Rodan to the squad, along with utility James Sellar and defender Troy Davis for potentially his first AFL match.
The quartet has been named on an extended interchange, along with midfielder Jordie McKenzie, rebounder James Strauss and first year Demon Dean Kent.
Grimes suffered his injury in the opening quarter against Carlton last round, and will miss at least the next eight matches. He was named on the long term injury list on Thursday. A rookie has yet to be elevated in his place.
Trengove suffered his setback at training on Thursday.
Coach Mark Neeld said afterwards that Trengove could also miss upcoming matches against Richmond and Fremantle.
“They need to see how it pulls up tomorrow (Friday) and the next day to see how they treat it. But normally with soft tissue injuries, it’s around the [two to three week mark],” Neeld said.
Dawes, who has been named in the starting 18, will make his much awaited debut for Melbourne, after crossing from Collingwood in last October’s trade period.
The 2010 Collingwood premiership player played in Melbourne’s opening NAB Cup clash against North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on February 22, after coming back from a calf injury in the pre-season.
But he missed seven weeks with a hamstring injury, from the third week of the NAB Cup until Melbourne’s round four win over Greater Western Sydney.
Dawes made his first appearance for Casey against Williamstown on April 27, and played his second match against Port Melbourne last weekend.
Neeld said that Dawes was a welcome addition.
“He’ll certainly have an impact in terms of being down there,” he said.
“Expectations in terms of hitting the scoreboard and those things won’t exist straight away.”
Davey has played four matches this season, and Rodan has made three appearances with his new club.
Sellar played in the opening three rounds.
Davis, in his third listed season with Melbourne, has played four NAB Cup matches and was an emergency twice last season.
He was drafted from the Geelong Falcons at No.50 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft.
Round seven Melbourne team
B: Lynden Dunn, James Frawley, Dean Terlich
HB: Daniel Nicholson, Tom McDonald, Colin Garland
C: Rohan Bail, Jack Viney, Matt Jones
HF: Jeremy Howe, Chris Dawes, Colin Sylvia
F: Luke Tapscott, Max Gawn, Shannon Byrnes
FOLL: Jake Spencer, Michael Evans, Nathan Jones
I/C: Jordie McKenzie, David Rodan, James Strauss, James Sellar, Dean Kent, Aaron Davey, Troy Davis
IN: Aaron Davey, David Rodan, James Sellar, Chris Dawes, Troy Davis
OUT: Jack Grimes (collarbone), Jack Trengove (calf)
