MELBOURNE has added four players to its squad for Monday’s Queen’s Birthday clash against Collingwood at the MCG.
Tough-nut Jack Viney, former co-captain Jack Grimes, ball-winner Viv Michie and former Magpie Ben Kennedy have been included in the 25-man squad.
They have been named on the extended interchange, along with forward Dean Kent, and 2016 NAB AFL Rising Star nominess Clayton Oliver and James Harmes.
Goalsneak Jeff Garlett is the only player out of last round’s side, which lost to Hawthorn by 18 points at the MCG.
It is the first time Garlett has been omitted since being at Melbourne.
As announced earlier on Thursday by coach Paul Roos, Viney has been named, despite missing just one match with a fractured knucklebone.
Viney would’ve at least missed last round, due to a one-match suspension for striking Port Adelaide’s Brad Ebert during Melbourne’s loss to the Power at TIO Traeger Park Oval in round 10.
The surprising news – given Viney was expected to miss a month – came about after he received a positive report from his surgeon on Monday.
But a decision on whether Viney will play will be made after Melbourne’s training session on Saturday.
The final team will be named later that day.
“If you were a betting man, you’d bet that he’s going to play,” Roos said.
“But our job is to decide whether he can functionally perform the way we want him to play.
“We won't know that until Saturday morning.”
Grimes has yet to add to his 98 AFL matches this year, despite producing some strong football with Casey this year.
He has been on the cusp of selection all season, having been named an emergency eight times.
Michie has played three matches this season – from rounds seven to nine – but has been an emergency the past two weeks.
Like Grimes, Michie has been one of Casey’s best performers in 2016.
Kennedy, who crossed to Melbourne from Collingwood at the end of last season, has played every match in 2016, except last round.
But he was arguably Casey’s best in its win over Port Melbourne at Casey Fields last Sunday, kicking three goals and notching up 30 disposals.
Melbourne will be playing Collingwood for the second time this season and aiming for its third win in a row over the Pies.
Melbourne team: round 12
B: Jayden Hunt, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB: Billy Stretch, Oscar McDonald, Josh Wagner
C: Tomas Bugg, Christian Petracca, Bernie Vince
HF: Jack Trengove, Jack Watts, Aaron vandenBerg
F: Sam Frost, Jesse Hogan, Chris Dawes
Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson
I/C (from): Jack Viney, Clayton Oliver, Dean Kent, Viv Michie, Jack Grimes, Ben Kennedy, James Harmes
In: Jack Grimes, Viv Michie, Jack Viney, Ben Kennedy
Out: Jeff Garlett
