MELBOURNE coach Mark Neeld says forward Liam Jurrah has earned the right to return to AFL level.
 
His selection to play his first game for the season against the Sydney Swans on Saturday came on the day he appeared in an Alice Springs court via video link to face charges relating to his alleged involvement in a brawl in Alice Springs in March.
 
Neeld said the club would let the legal process run its course but his selection was warranted because of his form at VFL level and on the training track.
 
Neeld understood there would be differing views on whether a player facing such serious charges should be selected in the side but said the football club would simultaneously back Liam and respect the legal process.
 
"No matter what angle we take, no matter what I say, no matter what Liam says, there will be people who say 'yep we support you' and there will be other people who have a different view," Neeld said. "That is the way it works. We're going to let the legal system run its course."
 
Although it is remarkable that Jurrah will take the field for his first game since round 23, 2011, just two days after appearing in court, Neeld said the 23-year-old forward was a very resilient man.
 
"There is no need to worry about Liam's resilience or mental strength," Neeld said.
 
Jurrah was excited when told of his elevation and Neeld said he was keen to get out and play football.

He will play in the forward line but Neeld used the same line he uses in relation to his players when asked what expectations he had of Jurrah: "Come in, play your role and see how you go," Neeld said.
 
Jurrah has played 35 games and kicked 81 goals since making his debut in 2010.
 
Meanwhile, Neeld said he had spoken to Stefan Martin after the young Demon was criticised for waving to the camera when sitting in the crowd during the last quarter of Friday night's loss against Hawthorn.

Neeld would not reveal the detail of the conversation but made it clear it was a lesson learned for Martin. "It was a good opportunity for Stef's education in the footy world," Neeld said.

Neeld said he accepted that when a team is sitting on the bottom of the ladder all sorts of things would be interpreted in a myriad of ways.  

"There is massive scrutiny," Neeld said.

"You get scrutinised far more it seems when you are sitting on the bottom of the ladder … so you use everything as an educational tool and say listen boys when you are zero and seven don't smile in the crowd, shake hands politely and just move off.

"When we win games of footy, you can broaden your smile … just a little bit though."

Neeld will be hoping smiles might have the chance to broaden when his team plays the Swans at the SCG.

He admitted that out-of-form forward Colin Sylvia needed to have more impact on the game and said he had no hesitation recalling Brad Green for his first senior game since round two.

Green had been dropped and then had an operation on his finger after a dislocation. "He did everything and then some more that was required of him," Neeld said.