MELBOURNE is set to field close to a full-strength side for its NAB Challenge opener against Fremantle on Thursday.
Recruits Heritier Lumumba, Jeff Garlett, Sam Frost and Ben Newton are among those named for the clash at Fremantle Oval and manager of football Josh Mahoney said Melbourne had selected its best available team with an eye to the home and away season.
“We think it’s important that we put out our best team that we’ve got available at the moment to build some momentum into the season,” Mahoney told melbournefc.com.au.
“With a number of new players coming into the team, the more they get to train together, the better prepared they’ll be for the season.
“There will be different players used throughout the three weeks with a fair few players potentially getting an opportunity later in the NAB Challenge.”
Mahoney said Lumumba, Garlett, Frost and Newton were all expected to play a role throughout the season, with the NAB Challenge their first opportunity to impress.
“All four of those players were targeted during the trade period to come in to play a role for us,” Mahoney told melbournefc.com.au.
“They’ve all played AFL football before and they’ve had good pre-seasons.
“We look forward to them playing in the team during the NAB Challenge period.”
Father-son draftee Billy Stretch and mature-aged rookie Aaron vandenBerg have also been named in the squad and could potentially line up for their first games in red and blue.
Meanwhile, three experienced Demons will miss the NAB Challenge opener through injury.
Jeremy Howe and Bernie Vince are both sidelined with hamstring injuries while Jack Watts will sit out the first game as he continues to build up his fitness following a groin issue early in pre-season.
“Jack’s had an interrupted pre-season with some groin injuries,” Mahoney said.
“He’s got over the majority of that and he’s been building up his training.
“He took part in a match simulation last week and is probably still a couple of weeks away from playing a game but is progressing well.”
Melbourne will take on a Fremantle side renowned for its defensive prowess and Mahoney said the game would allow the players to test themselves against quality opposition.
“This first game is a good opportunity for us to test ourselves against a top four team and a team that’s known for being very good defensively,” Mahoney said.
“It’s also an opportunity to travel as a team and test ourselves interstate.”
The game against Fremantle will kick off at 4.10pm local time (7.10pm AEDT).
Melbourne squad to play Fremantle
1. Jesse Hogan
2. Nathan Jones
3. Christian Salem
5. Jimmy Toumpas
6. Chris Dawes
7. Jack Viney
8. Heritier Lumumba
11. Max Gawn
12. Dom Tyson
13. Jordie Mckenzie
14. Lynden Dunn
15. Billy Stretch
16. Dean Kent
17. Sam Frost
18. Daniel Cross
19. Ben Newton
20. Colin Garland
21. Cameron Pedersen
22. Viv Michie
24. Jay Kennedy-Harris
25. Tom McDonald
31. Jack Grimes
36. Jeff Garlett
37. Aaron vandenBerg
39. Neville Jetta
40. Mark Jamar
42. Jake Spencer
44. Rohan Bail
45. Matt Jones
More to come.
