MELBOURNE has named ruckman Max Gawn and forward Jeremy Howe for their first AFL match against Essendon at the MCG on Friday night.
The duo is among five changes made by Melbourne for its round 11 clash.
Coming into the side is outstanding young midfielder Tom Scully for his first AFL match for the season.
Scully suffered a knee injury in the NAB Challenge and only returned for his first match last week via Casey against Williamstown.
The Demons also welcome back Jack Trengove, following his three-match suspension.
Defender James Strauss will also make just his third AFL appearance - and his first for 2011 - after playing two matches in rounds one and two last year.
The Dees were forced to make one change, with versatile tall Michael Newton sidelined for four to six weeks with a foot injury.
Ricky Petterd, Matthew Bate, Matthew Warnock and Addam Maric have been omitted.
Bate has been relegated to an emergency, with yet-to-debut pair Tom McDonald and Sam Blease.
The 208cm Gawn - the second tallest player in the AFL - and the highflying Howe have been right on the cusp of selection.
They have impressed at Casey and been emergencies for Melbourne in recent weeks.
Gawn and Howe will become the fourth debutants for Melbourne in three weeks, following the first games from Michael Evans against St Kilda and Daniel Nicholson against Carlton.
Melbourne
B: James Frawley, Jared Rivers, Joel Macdonald
HB: Tom Scully, Jack Watts, James Strauss
C: Jordan Gysberts, Brent Moloney, Jack Trengove
HF: Cale Morton, Colin Sylvia, Jeremy Howe
F: Max Gawn, Brad Green, Jamie Bennell
FOLL: Stef Martin, Nathan Jones, Jordie McKenzie
I/C: Liam Jurrah, Neville Jetta, Michael Evans, Daniel Nicholson
EMG: Matthew Bate, Tom McDonald, Sam Blease
IN: James Strauss, Jack Trengove, Tom Scully, Max Gawn, Jeremy Howe
OUT: Michael Newton (foot), Ricky Petterd, Matthew Bate, Matthew Warnock, Addam Maric
NEW: Max Gawn, Jeremy Howe
Essendon
B: Kyle Hardingham, Cale Hooker, Dustin Fletcher
HB: Henry Slattery, David Myers, Nathan Lovett-Murray
C: Leroy Jetta, Brent Stanton, Travis Colyer
HF: Jake Melksham, Paddy Ryder, David Zaharakis
F: Angus Monfries, David Hille, Stewart Crameri
FOLL: Tom Bellchambers, Ben Howlett, Mark McVeigh
I/C: Sam Lonergan, Dyson Heppell, Alex Browne, Michael Hibberd
EMG: Andrew Welsh, Alwyn Davey, Kyle Reimers
IN: Travis Colyer, Alex Browne
OUT: Alwyn Davey, Kyle Reimers
NEW: Alex Browne
Essendon
B: Kyle Hardingham, Cale Hooker, Dustin Fletcher
HB: Henry Slattery, David Myers, Nathan Lovett-Murray
C: Leroy Jetta, Brent Stanton, Travis Colyer
HF: Jake Melksham, Paddy Ryder, David Zaharakis
F: Angus Monfries, David Hille, Stewart Crameri
FOLL: Tom Bellchambers, Ben Howlett, Mark McVeigh
I/C: Sam Lonergan, Dyson Heppell, Alex Browne, Michael Hibberd
EMG: Andrew Welsh, Alwyn Davey, Kyle Reimers
IN: Travis Colyer, Alex Browne
OUT: Alwyn Davey, Kyle Reimers
NEW: Alex Browne
