MELBOURNE has reacted to last round's 90-point loss to Fremantle, confirming it has made six changes to its side for Sunday's clash against Hawthorn at the MCG.
The Demons named their final side on Friday afternoon, bringing in David Rodan, Joel Macdonald, James Strauss, Jack Fitzpatrick, Cameron Pedersen and Dean Kent and leaving out five players.
On Thursday, James Magner, Neville Jetta and Max Gawn were omitted from the provisional squad, but the Demons have now also left out James Sellar and Daniel Nicholson from their final 22.
Strauss, Macdonald, Kent and Fitzpatrick have been named on the interchange. Nicholson, Sellar and Jake Spencer are the emergencies.
Forward Shannon Byrnes was the only forced omission, due to a wrist injury, which also saw him miss round eight with the same problem.
From the original squad, Pedersen and Rodan were the only two inclusions to be named in the starting 18.
Pedersen, who has been named at centre half-back, shone in the same position for Casey last round, gathering 23 touches and 10 marks against Geelong at Skilled Stadium.
Rodan, who was named in the forward pocket, has played three matches this season in his first year with the Demons. Last week in the VFL, he had 26 disposals and 11 hard ball gets.
Fitzpatrick has also been in fine form for Casey, kicking five goals last round and supporting Spencer in the ruck with 19 hit outs.
Coach Mark Neeld has been impressed with Fitzpatrick's performances over the past four weeks.
"He's in really good form in the VFL, he's been doing it for about a month," he said.
"He's going to play up forward and he'll pinch hit in the ruck."
Defender Joel Macdonald will play his first match for the season after battling a hamstring problem.Strauss has made three appearances this year and Kent has played two in his first year at the club.
Neeld said the players added to the squad had earned their opportunities.
"We've got four or five guys that have been consistently good in the VFL and they deserve an opportunity to come in."
