MELBOURNE may make minimal changes to its side for Sunday’s clash against the West Coast Eagles at the MCG.

Although coach Paul Roos flagged ruckman/forward Max Gawn as a likely inclusion early in the week, he added that there could be few changes for round two.

“It’s more just trying to identify what we need and we definitely need talls, so that’s where Max comes into it,” he said on Dee TV’s Roos’ Views.  

“The other thing is that when you go through reviewing the game, we weren’t unhappy with most of the guys’ performances.

“You can’t be too results oriented and say ‘because we lost, we’re going to make some changes’. Sometimes you actually win and play poorly and then you don’t make changes that you should – and sometimes you lose and make changes when you perhaps shouldn’t.

“That’s the biggest thing for us – to make sure that if we do make changes, they’ll be for the improvement of the team and we don’t just make them because we lost.”

Roos said big men Tom McDonald (corked thigh) and Jack Fitzpatrick (concussion) were doing everything possible to play in round two.

“The early signs are pretty positive. Tommy McDonald had a bit of a run today (Wednesday) and Fitzy got on the bike,” he said.

“It’ll be Friday, until we get a genuine understanding if they’re going to play, but both are progressing well at this stage.”

Meanwhile, Roos, who will coach his first match at the MCG as Melbourne coach this round, said it was exciting to lead the Demons at the home of football.

“It’s a great venue. I talked about it at the jumper night – what a great venue it is and I’ve been fortunate to travel around the world and see some of the great sporting venues,” he said.

“The MCG stacks up favourably to all of them, so it’s always exciting when you play there, coach there and when you walk on there.

“It’s just got a great feel to it, so I think we’re fortunate as a club to have that as a home ground.”