MELBOURNEfc has made a number of changes to its squad to face Geelong at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.
Adem Yze has been recalled to the squad after putting in a strong performance for Sandringham over the weekend. Yze’s amazing run of 226 consecutive games, which started in 1997, has come to an end, but he will effectively be starting a new run as of this Sunday.
Other new names selected on the extended bench mark some welcome returns, including Clint Bizzell and Paul Johnson, along with Ryan Ferguson, and 2006 draftee Ricky Petterd sees his name included for a prospective senior debut.
Missing from the squad will be Jared Rivers, who pulled up sore with a hamstring complaint. He will be joined on the sidelines by Melbourne’s lengthy list of casualties, David Neitz (knee – 3-4 weeks), Russell Robertson (knee – 6 weeks), McLean (foot – 5 weeks) and Clint Bartram (knee – TBA).
Byron Pickett will spend another week gaining more match fitness with Sandringham.
Melbourne squad
Backs: B.Holland, N.Carroll, M.Whelan
Half backs: D.Ward, P.Wheatley, D.Bell
Centreline: B.Moloney, J.McDonald, B.Green
Half forwards: C.Bruce, B.Miller, M.Bate
Forwards: S.Godfrey, M.Jamar, A.Davey
Followers: J.White, N.Jones, T.Johnstone
I/C From: N.Brown, C.Bizzell, C.Johnson, A.Yze, P.Johnson, R.Ferguson, R.Petterd
Geelong squad
Backs: Corey Enright, Matthew Scarlett, Andrew Mackie
Half Backs: Josh Hunt, Matthew Egan, Darren Milburn
Centreline: David Wojcinski, Jimmy Bartel, Shannon Byrnes
Half forwards: Paul Chapman, Cameron Mooney, James Kelly
Forwards: Nathan Ablett, Brad Ottens, Gary Ablett
Followers: Mark Blake, Cameron Ling, Joel Corey
I/C From: Charlie Gardiner, Tom Hawkins, Travis Varcoe, Brent Prismall, David Johnson, Joel Selwood, Kane Tenace
The final team will be selected at 5:00 pm on Friday.
