MELBOURNE has named midfielder Viv Michie for his first match of the season, after he was included for Friday night’s Anzac Day eve clash against Richmond at the MCG.
Michie has replaced big man Sam Frost, who will miss the next six to eight matches with a fractured toe, which he suffered against the Adelaide Crows at Adelaide Oval last Saturday. Youngster Jimmy Toumpas, versatile tall Cameron Pedersen and former co-captain Jack Grimes have been named emergencies.
Coach Paul Roos said on Roos’ Views that Michie had earned his promotion, after some fine performances for Casey.
“He’s been terrific. His form’s been outstanding and that’s what we were hoping – if we had to bring guys in [the side], then they’d be in really good form,” he said.
“Viv’s performances at VFL level have been terrific, so he gets a chance this week, which is good.”
Roos said a tall option for Frost was discussed at match committee, but it was felt Michie was the most deserving, given his outstanding form could no longer be ignored. The former Freo player has also been an emergency for the past two matches.
“The fact that Dawesy (Chris Dawes) looked reasonably comfortable when [Sam] Frost went off last week – plus it’s a night game and it might be raining – all of those factors come into play, so that’s probably the main thing,” Roos said.
“The first round we had Frost and [Mark] Jamar – the two talls – because Dawesy wasn’t playing, so we’ve done it in round one. Dawesy looked reasonably comfortable [last round when Frost went off injured], so that was the main focus.”
Roos said Pedersen, Jake Spencer, Jack Fitzpatrick and Max Gawn were other talls also in good form and knocking on the door of selection.
“Pedo’s in good form, Spencer and Fitzpatrick [are also in good form], so we could have brought in one of those guys,” he said.
“Gawny (Max Gawn) is getting better each week as well, so the good thing is there is pressure on for spots.
“But we felt that going in with one genuine ruckman is the way to go.”
Roos said it was a fine line with keeping a stable line-up each week.
“We believe the players are really playing well in the seconds, but the fact that our Casey team is now coached by Justin Plapp and Byrnesy (Shannon Byrnes) is down there [coaching and playing helps]. You can see the game style is really transferrable,” he said.
“Our VFL team is playing a good, Melbourne brand of footy. If it wasn’t the case, you’d be a lot more worried about making sure guys are getting games with the AFL team, but the fact that we’re able to duplicate that brand is important.
“Our kicking let us down [last round] – it was 20 scoring shots to 20 – but there is a lot of discussion about who to bring in and who not. There are probably five or six guys really knocking on the door and are playing really good football for Casey.”
Melbourne team: round four
B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta
HB: Jeremy Howe, Tom McDonald, Christian Salem
C: Daniel Cross, Nathan Jones, Heritier Lumumba
HF: Ben Newton, Jesse Hogan, Jeff Garlett
F: Dean Kent, Chris Dawes, Jack Watts
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince
I/C: Angus Brayshaw, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Viv Michie, Aaron vandenBerg
EMG: Jimmy Toumpas, Cameron Pedersen, Jack Grimes
