MELBOURNE has named seven new players in its squad for Friday night’s NAB Challenge opener against Richmond at Etihad Stadium.

The Demons have included former Adelaide star Bernie Vince, ex-Bulldog stalwart Daniel Cross, early draft pick Dom Tyson from GWS and Viv Michie, who played one game with Fremantle.

The four players were acquired throughout last year’s trade/free agency period to bolster Melbourne’s midfield depth.

Small forward draftee Jay Kennedy-Harris, who was claimed at No.40 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft, and impressed in last week’s match simulation session is also in the squad.

Mature-age rookie Alex Georgiou and 18-year-old Max King have also been named.

Georgiou, a 24-year-old from Norwood, will gain his first taste in the AFL after becoming a dependable defender in the SANFL. King, a raw rookie ruckman from Wagga, will also gain valuable experience, given the absence of several ruckmen.

Several players have not been included and have instead been held over for Melbourne’s intra-club clash at Gosch’s Paddock next Thursday.

Those include talls Chris Dawes, Jesse Hogan, Mark Jamar, Jack Fitzpatrick and Max Gawn, and smalls Jack Viney and Dean Kent.

Key forward/ruckman Mitch Clark (hamstring), Colin Garland (ankle) and Aidan Riley (leg) are injured.    

Dom Barry, who played one NAB Cup match last year and was part of the Indigenous All Stars, which played against Ireland last October, has been named.

The match will start at 7.10pm and will be the first of two NAB Challenge matches for the Demons.

Melbourne will also venture to Central Australia, where it will play the Geelong Cats at TIO Traeger Park in Alice Springs on February 28.

The squad:
Rohan Bail
Dom Barry
Sam Blease
Shannon Byrnes
Mitch Clisby
Daniel Cross
Lynden Dunn
Michael Evans
James Frawley
Alexis Georgiou
Jack Grimes
Jeremy Howe
Matt Jones
Nathan Jones
Jay Kennedy-Harris
Max King
Tom McDonald
Jordie McKenzie
Viv Michie
Daniel Nicholson
Cameron Pedersen
Jake Spencer
James Strauss
Dean Terlich
Jimmy Toumpas
Jack Trengove
Bernie Vince
Dom Tyson
Jack Watts