MELBOURNE has finalised its 22, making five changes for Sunday’s clash against Essendon at Etihad Stadium.
The Demons confirmed that hard-nut Tom Bugg, who starred for Casey last weekend with 32 disposals and five goals, had been named in the final team, along with defender Oscar McDonald, who returns for his third game of the season, after being an emergency the past two rounds and playing in the VFL.
Speedster Billy Stretch has been omitted for the first time this year, while utility James Harmes has been left out after playing the past four matches.
Second-year Demon Sam Weideman has also been named an emergency after playing in Melbourne’s opening four games of the season.
On Thursday night, the Demons named tall Cam Pedersen for his first game of the season.
Pedersen, who was an emergency in round three against Geelong at Etihad Stadium, has been in strong form for Casey and is set to play as a ruckman/forward.
He was named in the starting 18, along with four-time premiership player Jordan Lewis, who was rushed back in the side, after serving a three-match suspension.
Lewis played in the opening two rounds of the season, but was rubbed out for striking Carlton’s Patrick Cripps.
Recruit Mitch Hannan was named at full-forward, after being an emergency and the carryover player for last Monday night’s ANZAC Day Eve match.
It will be Hannan’s fifth AFL game, after he featured in Melbourne’s first four goals of 2017.
As announced earlier on Thursday, goalkicking ace Jesse Hogan will not play, due to the sad passing of his father, Tony.
And as expected, ruckman Jake Spencer (shoulder) and rookie Tim Smith (lung) have been ruled out after suffering injuries against Richmond at the MCG last round.
Spencer will miss the next six to seven weeks his injury, with a timeframe yet to be placed on Smith, as he is still in hospital.
Coach Simon Goodwin said it was unfortunate to make three forced changes, but he added that the side would be fresh entering round six.
“We’d like to get a bit more stability in our team, but with a short week, we’ll have a fresh group of players running around,” he said.
“It’s great to have his (Lewis) composure and leadership back; Tom Bugg’s form in the VFL has been outstanding and he demanded that we pick him in the team this week. Cam Pedersen comes in, as we’re lacking a few talls, and his form in the VFL is very good.
“Oscar McDonald comes in to bolster the team after playing some good VFL footy in the past couple of weeks, and Mitch Hannan comes back in the team after a week without playing any footy, so he comes in nice and fresh.”
Goodwin said his charges were determined to bounce back after falling short to Richmond last round.
“They were disappointed on Monday night and we feel like we’re playing some pretty reasonable footy without getting the results on the board. We’re looking forward to getting out there and just finding a way to play the way we want to play, and get a result the club is looking for,” he said.
Meanwhile, popular Demon Neville Jetta will play his 100th AFL match.
Melbourne team: round six
B: Michael Hibberd, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB: Jordan Lewis, Sam Frost, Bernie Vince
C: Jayden Hunt, Nathan Jones, Jake Melksham
HF: Christian Petracca, Jack Watts, Alex Neal-Bullen
F: Jay Kennedy-Harris, Mitch Hannan, Jeff Garlett
Foll: Cam Pedersen, Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney
I/C: Christian Salem, Dom Tyson, Oscar McDonald, Tom Bugg
Emg: Billy Stretch, Sam Weideman, James Harmes
In: Jordan Lewis, Tom Bugg, Cam Pedersen, Oscar McDonald, Mitch Hannan
Out: Jake Spencer (shoulder), Tim Smith (lung), Jesse Hogan (personal), Stretch, Harmes
