MELBOURNE has lost powerful small forward Dean Kent with a back injury for Sunday’s clash against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.
The red and blue announced its 25-man squad on Thursday night, with former co-captain Jack Grimes, playmaker Christian Salem, hard-nut Alex Neal-Bullen and defender Oscar McDonald coming into the squad.
No other changes have been made yet, with the final team to be announced on Friday afternoon.
No.2 draft pick Christian Petracca, youngster Billy Stretch and utility Viv Michie join Salem, O.McDonald, Neal-Bullen and Grimes on the extended interchange.
Coach Paul Roos said Salem was a strong chance to return this weekend, after missing round eight due to concussion.
“Salo was in the team and went out last weekend with a bit of concussion, so he’s right to play,” he told Melbourne TV.
“We’d like to fit him back in the side, but we’ll name the team and then get through training tomorrow (Friday) and see what the final team looks like.”
Neal-Bullen and Grimes, who have yet to play an AFL match in 2016, have been right on the cusp of selection all season, having been named an emergency five and four times respectively.
O.McDonald has made one appearance in Melbourne’s round one win over Greater Western Sydney at the MCG.
He has since missed two matches with an ankle injury and concussion, and played the rest of the season for Casey in the VFL.
Roos said it was hard to make changes when the side was playing well.
“It’s hard to spit anyone else out – the seconds have been playing well. Our role now is to just to reinforce to the seconds’ guys that if you’re not getting a game – keep playing the way you’ve been playing,” he said.
“As we saw with Viv Michie in particular last week, he played some good footy, [along with] Billy Stretch.
“That’s the challenge for the guys in the seconds – to keep playing the way they’re playing, so when they get a chance, they’re ready to go.”
Bernie Vince will play his 50th match for Melbourne against the Bulldogs – his 179th overall after he played 129 games with Adelaide from 2006-13.
Melbourne team: round eight
B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Tomas Bugg
HB: Josh Wagner, Colin Garland, Jayden Hunt
C: Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson, Clayton Oliver
HF: Jack Watts, Cameron Pedersen, Jeff Garlett
F: James Harmes, Jesse Hogan, Ben Kennedy
Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney
I/C (from): Christian Salem, Christian Petracca, Billy Stretch, Viv Michie, Oscar McDonald, Alex Neal-Bullen, Jack Grimes
In: Grimes, Salem, Neal-Bullen, O.McDonald
Out: Dean Kent (back)
