MELBOURNE has added five players to its squad for Sunday’s clash against the Adelaide Crows at the MCG, but has lost rookie Josh Wagner with a knee injury.
Former co-captain Jack Grimes, livewire Jeff Garlett, ball-winner Viv Michie, utility Matt Jones and tough-nut James Harmes have been added to the squad of 25.
First-year player Clayton Oliver has been omitted.
All five inclusions have been named on the extended interchange, along with another former co-skipper Jack Trengove and small forward Ben Kennedy. The final team will be named on Friday night.
Coach Paul Roos said selection was a difficult one leading into round 15.
“Our seconds played really well [on June 18]. There were some really good performances for Casey,” he said.
“So there was a bit of pressure on selection and we’ve seen this year that even one poor game can lead to getting dropped.
“It’s probably more about promoting [players], who have had a really good patch from Casey, rather than a bad patch of form from a senior player.”
It will be the first match Wagner has missed since he made his AFL debut in round three against North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena.
And Oliver, who received the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination after debuting in round one against Greater Western Sydney at the MCG, will miss his fourth game this year.
For Grimes, he is aiming to play his first match of the season, after being named an emergency 10 times in 2016.
Garlett, who has played nine matches this year, is also hoping for a return, after spending the past two games with Casey.
Michie continues to push his claims after some strong form in the VFL this year. He has been an emergency for the past four matches, after making his three appearances from rounds seven to nine this year.
M.Jones, who played the opening four matches of the season, before being sidelined for six weeks, has been one of Casey’s best over the past three weeks and will be pressing hard for a call-up.
And Harmes, who played the first 11 games of the season, is looking to bounce back into the side, after being an emergency the past two matches.
Melbourne squad: round 15
B: Sam Frost, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB: Jayden Hunt, Oscar McDonald, Tomas Bugg
C: Aaron vandenBerg, Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince
HF: Christian Petracca, Chris Dawes, Billy Stretch
F: Jack Watts, Jesse Hogan, Dean Kent
Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney
I/C (from): Jack Trengove, Viv Michie, Jack Grimes, Ben Kennedy, Jeff Garlett, James Harmes, Matt Jones
In: Grimes, Garlett, Michie, M.Jones, Harmes
Out: Josh Wagner (knee), Clayton Oliver
