MELBOURNE has named speedster Sam Blease for his first match of the season and recalled first-year Demon Jay Kennedy-Harris for Sunday’s clash against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.
The Dees have named Blease, Kennedy-Harris, powerful youngster Dean Kent and tough-nut Luke Tapscott on their interchange.
Defender Dean Terlich, who has played 14 matches this season, has been left out of the side and has been named an emergency, along with ruckman Max Gawn and midfielder Viv Michie.
On Thursday night, ball-winner Matt Jones, who has played every match since making his AFL debut in round one, 2013 – and has averaged 20 touches per game, was omitted for the first time since being at the club.
It means his 38-game consecutive streak has come to a halt.
For Blease, who has been an emergency five times in 2014, he will play his 32nd AFL match and first since round 21, last year. He has been in good form for Casey in recent weeks, and had 26 disposals last round.
Kennedy-Harris is back in the side after playing in Melbourne’s first 11 matches of the season. He has impressed with his skill and defensive pressure in attack. He has also been in good form in the VFL.
Gawn had a remarkable 87 hit outs for the Scorpions last weekend – after being omitted for Melbourne’s clash against Geelong last round.
Michie played the opening two matches of the season, but has not featured since. He was sidelined from rounds four to seven with a broken jaw, but has since built up his form in the VFL, collecting 29 disposals for Casey last round.
Melbourne will take on Port Adelaide for the second time this season. In its previous encounter, the Demons went down to the Power by 20 points in the inaugural home and away match in Alice Springs.
The Demons will play their second match at Adelaide Oval this year, after they defeated Adelaide in round seven. It was Melbourne’s first win in the city of churches since 2001.
The match starts at 12.40pm local time (1.10pm Melbourne time).
Melbourne team: round 18
B: Colin Garland, James Frawley, Lynden Dunn
HB: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe
C: Jack Grimes, Bernie Vince, Jordie McKenzie
HF: Jack Viney, Cameron Pedersen, Jack Watts
F: Rohan Bail, Chris Dawes, Aidan Riley
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson
I/C: Dean Kent, Sam Blease, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Luke Tapscott
EMG: Viv Michie, Max Gawn, Dean Terlich
IN: Sam Blease, Jay Kennedy-Harris
OUT: Matt Jones, Dean Terlich
