MELBOURNE has added three players to its 25-man squad for Monday’s Queen’s Birthday clash against Collingwood at the MCG.
The Demons have rushed back key forward Chris Dawes, who missed last round’s 20-point loss to Port Adelaide at TIO Trager Park Oval, due to a one-match suspension for striking Richmond’s Alex Rance.
Midfielders Jordie McKenzie and Aidan Riley have been added to the initial squad.
Ruckman Max Gawn, small forward Jay Kennedy-Harris, defender Dean Terlich, Riley, midfielder Christian Salem, second-year Demon Jimmy Toumpas and McKenzie have been named on the extended interchange.
No omissions have been made at this stage, with the final team to be named on Saturday.
Coach Paul Roos said on Dee TV’s Roos’ Views on Thursday that Dawes was a welcome return.
“Dawesy’s a really important player for us – we missed him early in the season and he came back against Carlton and did really well and he’s been really consistent for us,” he said.
“He’s just a real competitor and a great leader … we need Dawesy back in the side.”
Dawes has been a key contributor in his six appearances for the Demons this year, after a calf injury forced him to miss the start of the season.
He will return to take on his former team – he was a member of Collingwood’s 2010 premiership team – for just the second time. But he will be hoping for better luck this time around, after an ankle injury forced him to be subbed out against the Pies in last year’s Queen’s Birthday clash.
McKenzie has featured in just two AFL matches this year, after a foot injury interrupted the start of his home and away season. But he has been on the cusp of selection, having been an emergency the past two rounds.
Riley has played one match for his new club – Melbourne’s round nine win over Richmond – before he was named an emergency for last weekend’s clash in Alice Springs. Initially, he was named in the 22 for the Northern Territory match, but he was replaced the day before by Jimmy Toumpas.
Young defender Tom McDonald will play his 50th AFL match.
McDonald, 21, has played 49 from 56 matches since he made his AFL debut against the Gold Coast Suns under former coach Todd Viney in round 23, 2011.
The Demons will be aiming to defeat the Magpies for the first time since round 11, 2007, when former star forward Russell Robertson booted seven goals. The two sides did draw in round 12, 2010.
Melbourne team: round 12
B: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta
HB: Jack Grimes, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe
C: Daniel Cross, Dom Tyson, Bernie Vince
HF: Rohan Bail, James Frawley, Matt Jones
F: Cam Pedersen, Chris Dawes, Jack Watts
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney
I/C (from): Max Gawn, Jay Kennedy-Harris, Dean Terlich, Aidan Riley, Christian Salem, Jimmy Toumpas, Jordie McKenzie
IN: Chris Dawes, Jordie McKenzie, Aidan Riley
Out: –
