THREE players could return for Melbourne’s clash against Essendon at the MCG on Saturday.
Premiership player Heritier Lumumba, former co-captain Jack Grimes and rookie Aaron vandenBerg could return from injury.
Misson said the team had pulled up well from its match in Darwin and it expected to have “a few guys coming back this week”.
“Grimesy with that thumb, he trained last week and he’s trained today (Tuesday). We’d expect that he’d be right to play,” he told Dee TV.
“vandenBerg is coming back from that hamstring and did a training session today (Tuesday) and he’d be available this week, I would think, but he’s just got to get through Thursday’s session.
“’H’ also trained today (Tuesday) and was really good with that toe and he’s just got to get through Thursday and he should be right.”
Youngster Angus Brayshaw (neck) is also likely to play against the Dons, according to elite performance manager Dave Misson.
The first-year Demon was subbed out early in the match against the West Coast Eagles at TIO Stadium last Saturday night, after hurting his neck.
“With Angus, we’re pretty confident his neck problems are OK,” Misson said.
“He’s had scans and it’s cleared him of any real mechanical stuff and structural damage, which is good. It’s getting over that concussion, so the docs are pretty cautious with him today (Tuesday). He had a bit of a run around and a kick and we hope to get him up to train on Thursday.
“If he trains Thursday and gets through all right and passes all of his concussion tests, he’s probably going to be available. He’s looking more likely than less at this stage.”
Forward Dean Kent and half-back Christian Salem, who both have hamstring injuries are still a two and three weeks away respectively.
“Dean did his first session with the group today (Tuesday) and looked really good,” Misson said.
“Christian’s has had a bit of a setback because he’s been crook. He’s had a couple of illnesses while he’s been in rehab, so it’s probably put him back a week to a week and a half.
“He’s probably three weeks away, but he ran really well today (Tuesday) and I’d expect him to be trouble free from here on in.”
Misson said tall Sam Frost (toe) had started running outside and was “going pretty well”.
“It’s been a while since he put his boots on, so he’s happy with that,” he said.
Misson said utility Cameron Pedersen (wrist), draftee Christian Petracca (knee) and former co-captain Jack Trengove (foot) were out for the rest of the season.
“Pedo had a run today (Tuesday) – his first run – and looked pretty good,” he said.
“Christian’s going really well and doing some good leg weights and done some running outside and his knee’s in real good shape.
“And Jack has an appointment with his surgeon on the 20th of July with an accompanying scan, so we’re going to know a fair bit more after that.”
Melbourne injury list: round 15
Angus Brayshaw (neck) – test
Sam Frost (toe) – 5 weeks
Jack Grimes (thumb) – test
Dean Kent (hamstring) – 2 weeks
Heritier Lumumba (toe) – test
Cameron Pedersen (wrist) – season
Christian Petracca (knee) – season
Christian Salem (hamstring) – 3 weeks
Jack Trengove (foot) – season
Aaron vandenBerg (hamstring) – test
