But the Demons have included versatile small Neville Jetta for his first match of the season, after an ankle injury sidelined him for the first 13 rounds of 2012. Jetta has played the past three matches in the VFL.
The Demons have also rushed back tall Lynden Dunn, after he served a one match suspension. Mature age rookie James Magner and ruckman Jake Spencer also return, after they were left out against Fremantle.
Midfielder/forward Matthew Bate, who has played 10 matches this season, has been left out of the side and has been named an emergency.
Ball winner Jordan Gysberts and big man James Sellar are the other two emergencies.
“Unfortunately we have lost three players through injury this week for our game in Darwin,” Josh Mahoney told melbournefc.com.au.
McKenzie will miss his first match of the season with a groin injury. Jamar (calf) will miss the next two to four matches and Bennell (knee) will be sidelined for the rest of the year, after the duo sustained injuries in last Saturday’s loss against Fremantle at Etihad Stadium.
“Jordie has played every game this year, but unfortunately a groin injury will keep him out this week,” Mahoney said.
“Jamie Bennell had his knee operation on Wednesday. This operation was successful, and Jamie will be recovering in the short term before beginning his rehabilitation program.”
Jetta, who has played 30 games since he made his debut in 2009, will make his first appearance for the Demons since round 24 last year, when they played against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.
“Neville has been increasing his game time for the last three weeks at Casey - in that time he has shown the hardness and intensity we know he brings, and is a welcome addition into the team,” Mahoney said.
Magner has played every match except last round, when he was an emergency against Fremantle. This will be Spencer’s third match from the past four rounds, after he missed much of last season and had the start of his 2012 season interrupted with a knee injury.
“James returns to the side after a week off - he was our non-playing emergency last week,” Mahoney said.
“Jake returns to the side after one week back at Casey - he showed some good signs in his previous two games at AFL level.”
Dunn has played 11 matches this season and was building in form, before his one match absence due to suspension last round.
Gysberts has yet to play a match this season, after he missed eight of the opening 10 rounds with an ankle injury and jaw fracture respectively. He missed four matches for each setback.
Sellar has played 10 matches in his first season at the club, after 21 appearances with Adelaide from 2007-11. But he missed the past two rounds with a thigh problem.
The match starts at 7.10 pm local time.
Round 17 Melbourne team
B: Daniel Nicholson, James Frawley, Colin Garland
HB: Joel Macdonald, Tom McDonald, Jack Grimes
C: Rohan Bail, Colin Sylvia, Sam Blease
HF: Ricky Petterd, Stef Martin, Jeremy Howe
F: James Magner, Jared Rivers, Brad Green
FOLL: Jake Spencer, Jack Trengove, Nathan Jones
I/C: Lynden Dunn, James Strauss, Tom Couch, Neville Jetta
EMG: Jordan Gysberts, Matthew Bate, James Sellar
IN: Lynden Dunn, James Magner, Jake Spencer, Neville Jetta
OUT: Mark Jamar (calf), Jordie McKenzie (groin), Jamie Bennell (knee), Matthew Bate
