MELBOURNE has rushed back midfielder Jordie McKenzie and defender Tom McDonald for Saturday night’s clash against Fremantle at TIO Stadium in Darwin.
They have replaced the suspended Neville Jetta and runner Daniel Nicholson, who has been relegated to an emergency. Tough nut Luke Tapscott and defender Alex Georgiou have also been named emergencies.
McKenzie missed last round’s six-point loss to the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium due to a one-match suspension for striking North Melbourne’s Lindsay Thomas in round 14.
The run-with Demon will return for his fifth match this season, after a foot injury interrupted his start to the year.
McDonald was a late withdrawal with a calf problem in the lead-up to last Sunday’s match.
It was the first match he missed this season.
Nicholson, who has been an emergency six times this year, played his first match of 2014 last round against the Dogs.
But with the return of McKenzie, Nicholson has made way this week.
Tapscott, who battled knee and hamstring injuries earlier in the season, has been building strong form in the VFL.
He has yet to play a match for the Demons in 2014.
Georgiou, who is in his first AFL season, played the opening seven rounds, before defender Colin Garland returned from injury and replaced the mature-age rookie.
But the South Australian has been in strong form for Casey in recent weeks and has been named an emergency for the second successive week.
Melbourne will play its first match in Darwin this year, and its third game in the Northern Territory this year, including a NAB Challenge game.
The Demons are set to continue playing home matches in the Territory, after a new deal was announced on Thursday.
Melbourne will play two home and away matches in the Territory in 2015 and another couple in 2016. At least one match in 2015 and 2016 will be played in Darwin. The other game in the respective seasons will be played in Darwin or Alice Springs.
Melbourne team: round 16
B: Colin Garland, James Frawley, Lynden Dunn
HB: Jack Grimes, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe
C: Jordie McKenzie, Bernie Vince, Jack Viney
HF: Jack Watts, Cam Pedersen, Matt Jones
F: Rohan Bail, Chris Dawes, Max Gawn
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson
I/C: Dean Terlich, Dom Barry, Dean Kent, Christian Salem
EMG: Daniel Nicholson, Luke Tapscott, Alex Georgiou
IN: Jordie McKenzie, Tom McDonald
OUT: Neville Jetta (suspension), Daniel Nicholson
