MELBOURNE has reacted to its 63-point loss to Fremantle at TIO Stadium last round, by omitting three players and bringing in tough-nut Luke Tapscott for his first match of the season.
The Demons have also rushed back defender Neville Jetta from a one-match suspension and recalled midfielder Aidan Riley.
Ruckman Max Gawn, first-year Demon Christian Salem and recent debutant Dom Barry have been left out of the side.
Gawn, Salem and speedster Sam Blease have been named emergencies.
Coach Paul Roos said earlier on Thursday that Jetta would return, and Riley and Tapscott had forced their way into the side.
“Nev will come back. He’s been really good for us and played some good footy and he’s hard. We need some real hard, big bodies – that’s something we probably need to look at going into this week,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“[Aidan] Riley’s been in really good form, [Luke] Tapscott has been in good form and they’re bigger bodies, so they’ve got to be a chance to play against Geelong.
“They’re a big midfield like Freo were and if you don’t compete at the contest and win your fair share of contested footy, it makes it hard to beat the Cats.”
Tapscott has been an emergency for the past two matches, after building up some strong form for Casey.
His year has been interrupted with injury, having suffered a knee problem in the pre-season and a hamstring early in the season.
Jetta has played nine matches since round five and become a mainstay in the side this season, after starting the year on the rookie list.
He missed round nine with gastro and was out last round due to engaging in rough conduct on Bulldog Fletcher Roberts, which happened in round 15.
Riley has played three matches for the Demons, after overcoming a serious broken leg sustained in the second half of last year, when playing for the Crows.
Since round seven, he has played his trio of games, and been an emergency for every other match, expect last week. But he shone for Casey last round, collecting 25 disposals.
Gawn has played five matches this year, including the past two rounds, after a hamstring injury affected the early part of his season.
Salem has featured in every game since making his AFL debut in round six. He has played 10 matches this year.
And Barry, who penned a new two-year deal on Thursday, has played the past two matches, after making his AFL debut against the Western Bulldogs in round 15.
The Demons will take on the Cats at 1.45pm on Saturday.
Melbourne team: round 17
B: Lynden Dunn, James Frawley, Colin Garland
HB: Jeremy Howe, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta
C: Jack Grimes, Bernie Vince, Jordie McKenzie
HF: Matt Jones, Cam Pedersen, Jack Watts
F: Rohan Bail, Chris Dawes, Jack Viney
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones
I/C: Dean Terlich, Dean Kent, Aidan Riley, Luke Tapscott
EMG: Max Gawn, Christian Salem, Sam Blease
IN: Luke Tapscott, Neville Jetta, Aidan Rilely
OUT: Max Gawn, Christian Salem, Dom Barry
