MELBOURNE has made two changes for Saturday night’s clash against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba.
The Demons have selected midfielder Dom Tyson and utility Tom Bugg, who were both round one emergencies, while forward Mitch Hannan and hard-nut Corey Maynard have been omitted.
Maynard is now an emergency, along with youngster Billy Stretch, forward Dean Kent and defender Sam Frost.
Coach Simon Goodwin said selection was again difficult.
“We’re bringing a couple of guys into the team that were unlucky to miss out last week,” he told Melbourne Media.
“With selection, we’re really lucky and fortunate to have a lot of players available, and a lot of players in form, so it’s a great problem to have.”
Goodwin said his side’s first interstate game of the home and away season was another great test for his team.
“We haven’t played there for a few years, so we’re looking forward to that,” he said.
“Brisbane is a side that’s continuing to improve. They’ve worked really heavily around their clearance and contested ball, and it’s an area that’s really improving for them.
“It’s going to be a great challenge for us, heading away together and it’s great to get on the road, with a six-day break, and get up there and get into another game.”
Reflecting on last round’s three-point loss to Geelong at the MCG, Goodwin said it was a genuine contest.
“It was a terrific game of footy against a real quality opposition in Geelong,” he said.
“It was really fought out to the end and I thought our second half was really strong, even though we didn’t score as much as we would’ve liked – I thought we defended incredibly well. That was probably where we lost the game in the first half, with how we defended.
“We won the ball around contest and clearance really well, but our ability to defend cost us at the end of the day. We’re really looking forward to getting four quarters of defence in.”
Melbourne will still be without co-captain Jack Viney and key tall Tom McDonald, who are both sidelined for another six to eight weeks with a foot injury.
Aaron vandenBerg (ankle) and Pat McKenna (hamstring) remain sidelined indefinitely.
It will be Melbourne’s first game at the Gabba since round five, 2013.
The Demons will be looking to notch up their fourth consecutive win over Brisbane and their first against the Lions at the Gabba since round 18, 2010 when the late Dean Bailey was coach.
The match will also see Jordan Lewis come up against four-time Hawthorn premiership teammate Luke Hodge for the first time as a Lion.
The match starts at 6.25pm local time (7.25pm Melbourne time).
Round two
Saturday, March 31
Brisbane Lions v Melbourne, Gabba
Away, 6.25pm (AEST)
Teams
Melbourne
B: Michael Hibberd, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB: Jordan Lewis, Jake Lever, Bernie Vince
C: Jayden Hunt, Christian Salem, Nathan Jones
HF: Christian Petracca, Cam Pedersen, James Harmes
F: Bayley Fritsch, Jesse Hogan, Jeff Garlett
Foll: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Alex Neal-Bullen
I/C: Dom Tyson, Jake Melksham, Tom Bugg, Josh Wagner
Emg: Billy Stretch, Dean Kent, Sam Frost, Corey Maynard
In: Tyson, Bugg
Out: Mitch Hannan, Maynard
Brisbane Lions
B: Nick Robertson, Josh Walker, Darcy Gardiner
HB: Luke Hodge, Harris Andrews, Alex Witherden
C: Lewis Taylor, Dayne Zorko, Ryan Lester
HF: Cameron Rayner, Daniel McStay, Hugh McCluggage
F: Allen Christensen, Eric Hipwood, Charlie Cameron
Foll: Stefan Martin, Jarrod Berry, Dayne Beams
I/C: Rohan Bewick, Cedric Cox, Sam Mayes, Rhys Mathieson
Emg: Tom Cutler, Zac Bailey, Jake Barrett, Archie Smith
In: Bewick, Cox, Mathieson
Out: Daniel Rich (ankle), Mitch Robinson (suspension), Tom Bell
