CAPTAIN James McDonald will play his first match for Melbourne since round 11, when the Demons take on the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba this Saturday night.

The Demons have made just one change with the 33-year-old returning for forward Addam Maric.

Maric has been relegated to an emergency after playing his first match for the season in last round’s 73-point win over the Sydney Swans.

The third-year Demon showed some good signs in just his 12th AFL match, collecting 17 disposals.

But it was always going to be a difficult match committee for the Melbourne coaching hierarchy, considering the skipper was back in the frame.

Outstanding first-year midfielder Jack Trengove, who has missed the past two matches with a hip injury, is also an emergency, along with key defender Matthew Warnock.

McDonald made a successful comeback in the VFL last Sunday, collecting 24 disposals for Casey against Collingwood at Victoria Park.

But his last appearance for the Demons was on June 5 against Carlton.

Up until that point, McDonald was among Melbourne’s best performers, rivaling his 2006/07 club champion years.

He now needs just four more appearances to become the seventh player to play 250 matches for Melbourne.

A corked thigh suffered against Fremantle in round 16 has again ruled out tough-nut ball-winner Brent Moloney.

This will be Melbourne’s first non-Sunday match since round 12 and its final Saturday for the 2010 home-and-away season.

Melbourne
B: Colin Garland, Jared Rivers, Clint Bartram
HB: Cameron Bruce, James Frawley, Joel Macdonald
C: Rohan Bail, James McDonald, Brad Green
HF: Lynden Dunn, Jack Watts, Tom Scully 
F: Jamie Bennell, Paul Johnson, Austin Wonaeamirri   
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Colin Sylvia Aaron Davey
I/C: Jordie McKenzie, Cale Morton, Nathan Jones, Liam Jurrah
Emg: Jack Trengove, Addam Maric, Matthew Warnock
In: McDonald   
Out: Maric

Brisbane Lions
B: Xavier Clarke, Daniel Merrett, Ashley McGrath
HB: Luke Power, Brent Staker, Joel Patfull
C: Jack Redden, Daniel Rich, Tom Rockliff
HF: James Polkinghorne, Jonathan Brown, Albert Proud
F: Jared Brennan, Brendan Fevola, Todd Banfield
Foll: Mitchell Clark, Simon Black, Michael Rischitelli
I/C: Pearce Hanley, Cheynee Stiller, Ryan Harwood, Matthew Leuenberger
Emg: James Hawksley, Aaron Cornelius, Justin Sherman
In: McGrath, Clarke, Stiller, Black
Out: Amon Buchanan (quad), Matt Maguire, James Hawksley, Aaron Cornelius