Utility Rohan Bail has been named in the starting 18, while midfielder Matthew Bate, forward Aaron Davey, defender Joel Macdonald and the yet-to-debut Troy Davis have been included on the extended interchange.
James Magner, Cale Morton and Sam Blease, who all played against Collingwood on Queen’s Birthday, are also on the initial bench.
As expected, the Demons have lost former captain Brad Green with a hip injury and hard-nut Luke Tapscott for a match due to suspension.
Football manager Josh Mahoney said the Demons would finalise their team later on Friday.
“Rohan has trained this week and his symptoms have improved each day,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“While Bate, Davey, Macdonald and Davis are currently in the squad of 25, but the final 22 will be finalised tomorrow.”
Mahoney said the loss of Green and Tapscott were a blow for the side.
“Unfortunately it’s another disruption to Brad’s season after he returned to the side from a finger injury,” he said.
“It’s disappointing to lose a player through suspension, particularly when Luke was starting to string some games together.”
Bail has missed the past three rounds due to concussion, after playing eight matches this season.
Bate’s most recent game came in round seven and Davey against the Swans in round eight. Both have played seven matches in 2012.
Macdonald has played five matches this year, but was left out of Melbourne’s Queen’s Birthday clash against Collingwood, after playing in the win against Essendon.
Davis has been a strong performer at VFL after gaining a taste of senior football in this year’s NAB Cup.
In form Demon Jack Watts will play his 50th AFL match this round.
Round 13 team
B: James Sellar, James Frawley, Jared Rivers
HB: Daniel Nicholson, Tom McDonald, Jack Watts
C: Rohan Bail, Jack Trengove, Jack Grimes
HF: Jeremy Howe, Lynden Dunn, Nathan Jones
F: Mitch Clark, Colin Garland, Colin Sylvia
Foll: Mark Jamar, Brent Moloney, Jordie McKenzie
I/C (from): Matthew Bate, Aaron Davey, James Magner, Cale Morton, Sam Blease, Troy Davis, Joel Macdonald
IN: Matthew Bate, Aaron Davey, Joel Macdonald, Troy Davis, Rohan Bail
OUT: Brad Green (hip), Luke Tapscott (suspension)
