The Melbourne Football Club has selected four debutants for Sunday’s season opener against North Melbourne. Jake Spencer, Jamie Bennell, Neville Jetta and Kyle Cheney will all make their senior debuts when they run out onto the MCG.
James McDonald will lead the team out for his first time as skipper, capping off a remarkable journey of coming from the Club's rookie list in 1997 to captaining the oldest club in the land in Season 2009.
Midfielders Brock McLean and Brent Moloney will make their returns to football after missing the second half of last year due to injures.
Melbourne’s defensive stocks have also been bolstered by the inclusion of Jared Rivers, who returns to football after enduring a wretched two year stint with a groin injury. Rivers only managed nine games over that period, but is now ready to regain his spot as a crucial link in Melbourne’s defensive chain.
The last time these two teams met at the MCG was back in Round 17, 2008, with the Demons going down by 28 points.
Melbourne Team
Backs: J.Rivers, M.Warnock, C.Bartram
Half backs: C.Garland, J.Frawley, B.Green
Centre line: A.Davey, B.McLean, B.Moloney
Half forwards: C.Bruce, P.Johnson, C.Morton
Forwards: B.Miller, M.Bate, R.Petterd
Followers: J.Spencer, J.McDonald, S.Buckley
I/C: J.Bennell, K.Cheney, N.Jones, N.Jetta
Emg: S.Martin,L.Dunn, J.Meesen
Rd 1 Selection: Four debutants
Four debutants for Sunday's season opener against North Melbourne
