MELBOURNE has made no changes for Saturday’s clash against North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena in Hobart.
The Demons have named versatile tall Cam Pedersen, defender Josh Wagner and midfielder Corey Maynard as their emergencies.
Pedersen, who was an emergency last round, after playing every game from rounds six to 17, was one of Casey’s best last round.
Wagner also impressed in the VFL last week with 24 disposals.
Mature-age rookie Maynard, who was promoted to the senior list on Thursday afternoon, has been in great form for Casey this year, and is edging closer to an AFL debut.
Co-captain Nathan Jones (quadriceps) remains sidelined for another week, but is on track to return in round 20.
Coach Simon Goodwin said it was “the first time for a while there are no changes, which is a good sign”.
“We’re starting to get the four or five guys we brought back in last week all performing really strongly,” he told Melbourne TV.
“It was great to see Jack Trengove play really strongly down back, so it put us in a predicament where we didn’t need to make a change.
“It gives us some real consistency and continuity with our team.”
Goodwin said his team was ready for its clash against the Kangaroos, after losing by five points in Tassie in 2016.
“It was an interesting game [in round three last year] – a really strong wind blowing to one end and that looks to be the same again this year,” he said.
“We now understand how the ground operates and what you need to do at both ends of the ground.
“We’re well prepared and we know what we’re up for and we know the quality of the team we’re playing down in Hobart.
“North Melbourne has won 75 per cent of its games down there and we’re going to have to be at our best and playing well.”
Goodwin said last round’s win over Port Adelaide was important for the club.
“It was a terrific win [last round]. I thought the first 50 minutes of the game – to keep Port Adelaide to five points was absolutely outstanding,” he said.
“Our pressure around the footy and our ability to win contests were very strong, so we couldn’t have asked for a better start to the game.
“I thought late in the game we got a little bit tired with bringing four or five guys back into the team, but their ability to hang on and just find a way to get it done was terrific.”
The match starts at 1:45pm.
Melbourne team: round 19
B: Jayden Hunt, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB: Christian Salem, Sam Frost, Michael Hibberd
C: Jack Trengove, Jordan Lewis, Clayton Oliver
HF: Christian Petracca, Jesse Hogan, Alex Neal-Bullen
F: Jeff Garlett, Tom McDonald, Jack Watts
Foll: Max Gawn, Jack Viney, Mitch Hannan
I/C: Dom Tyson, Jake Melksham, Jay Kennedy-Harris, James Harmes
Emg: Cam Pedersen, Josh Wagner, Corey Maynard
No change
