RUCKMAN Max Gawn has been named for his first match of the 2015 home and away season, having been selected in the No.1 ruck position for Monday’s Queen’s Birthday clash against Collingwood at the MCG.
Gawn, who has been named an emergency four times this season, has produced some strong form for Casey in recent weeks.
Melbourne has also named midfielders Ben Newton and Aidan Riley in the starting 18.
Newton played the opening six rounds of the season, but was an emergency in rounds seven and nine. His most recent game was in round eight in Melbourne’s win over the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.
Riley, who has been an emergency twice this season, played in the red and blue’s win over the Bulldogs. He started as a sub in that match.
Ball-winner Viv Michie has also been added to the squad, having been named on the seven-man bench.
Michie has made three appearances this season and been an emergency on three occasions.
Forward Jack Watts, dasher Jimmy Toumpas, first-year Demon Angus Brayshaw, Michie, defender Jack Grimes, ruckman Jake Spencer and midfielder Matt Jones have been named on the extended interchange.
Watts, Toumpas, Brayshaw, Grimes, Spencer and M.Jones played in Melbourne’s loss against Port Adelaide at TIO Traeger Park last Saturday.
Utility Rohan Bail, who has played three matches this year, from rounds seven to nine, has been omitted.
Manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said Gawn had earned his recall.
“We’ve been waiting for Max to put some good form together in the VFL and his past three or four games for the Casey Scorpions have been very good,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“He’s now got his opportunity to play his first game for the year.”
Mahoney said Newton and Riley were unfortunate to be left out in recent weeks.
“Both Ben and Aidan were unlucky to be out of the team,” he said.
“But with Neville Jetta and Jack Viney returning last week, they (Newton and Riley) didn’t play, but they’ll get another opportunity to play on Monday.”
Mahoney said midfielder Dom Tyson would play in the VFL this weekend, after missing the past two matches with a knee injury.
“We had a look at Dom’s [training] loads over the past few weeks and although he’s only missed a couple of games of footy, we felt it was best for him to play a full game in the VFL on Saturday,” he said.
“We feel that will give him the best chance to be involved and play in the AFL side.
“It also sets up him up for a good season, rather than rushing him back.”
Melbourne team: round 10
B: Colin Garland, Tom McDonald, Jack Fitzpatrick
HB: Jeremy Howe, Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta
C: Daniel Cross, Aaron vandenBerg, Heritier Lumumba
HF: Ben Newton, Cam Pedersen, Jack Viney
F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Aidan Riley
FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince
I/C (from): Jack Watts, Jimmy Toumpas, Angus Brayshaw, Viv Michie, Jack Grimes, Jake Spencer, Matt Jones
IN: Max Gawn, Aidan Riley, Viv Michie, Ben Newton
OUT: Rohan Bail
