MELBOURNE has finalised its 22 for Sunday’s clash against Essendon at the MCG, including midfielders Jordie McKenzie and Aidan Riley, and forward Dean Kent.
On Thursday night, the Demons left out small forward Jay Kennedy-Harris from the side that lost to Collingwood at the MCG on Queen’s Birthday by 33 points. Defender Dean Terlich and ruckman Max Gawn have also been omitted and relegated to emergencies.
McKenzie, Riley, first-year Demon Christian Salem and Kent have been named on the bench. Terlich, Gawn and dasher Daniel Nicholson have been named emergencies.
It will be just the second match Terlich has missed since he made his AFL debut for Melbourne against Essendon in round two last year. Gawn has played the past three matches for the Demons after a hamstring injury interrupted the start of his season.
Kennedy-Harris has made a fine impression in his first season, playing every match up until this round. Although he has been a starting substitute in five games, including his opening three AFL matches, Kennedy-Harris has provided plenty of spark and class and looms as a long-term member of Melbourne’s team.
But coach Paul Roos said Kennedy-Harris needed a breather after a big start to his career.
“We just felt Jay was getting a little bit tired, which is to be expected. He’s probably played a full season by now [when comparing it to] TAC Cup last season. He’s been terrific and he’s a really good young kid, but he’s probably just looking a little bit tired,” he said on Dee TV’s Roos’ Views.
Riley has been an emergency for four of the past five matches, except in round nine, when he made his debut for the Demons and played in their 17-point win over Richmond at the MCG.
It’s been a good effort by Riley to return, given he was coming off a serious broken leg, sustained playing for the Crows almost a year ago.
McKenzie gets his reward after just two matches this year – in rounds four and five – following a foot injury, which interrupted his start to the season.
He too has been on the cusp of selection in recent weeks, having been named an emergency for the past three rounds. He was again one of Casey’s best last week.
Kent has featured in two games this year, against GWS in round three and Melbourne’s first win of the season against Carlton in round four.
He then missed the next two matches with a calf injury and was later suspended for one match in the VFL. Like McKenzie, Kent was one of the best performers for the Scorpions last Saturday.
Nicholson has yet to play a match for the Demons this season, but has been an emergency four times in rounds one, four, six and 10. He has been a consistent performer in the VFL in recent weeks.
The Demons will play the Bombers for the first time since their 148-point loss in round two last year. Before that woeful display, the Dees had defeated the Dons the previous three matches.
Melbourne team: round 13
B: Jeremy Howe, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Jack Grimes
C: Bernie Vince, Jack Viney, Daniel Cross
HF: Matt Jones, Chris Dawes, Rohan Bail
F: Cam Pedersen, James Frawley, Jack Watts
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson
I/C: Jordie McKenzie, Aidan Riley, Christian Salem, Dean Kent
EMG: Dean Terlich, Max Gawn, Daniel Nicholson
IN: Jordie McKenzie, Aidan Riley, Dean Kent
OUT: Dean Terlich, Max Gawn, Jay Kennedy-Harris
