MELBOURNE has named exciting young wingman Billy Stretch, the son of 1987 best and fairest winner Steven, for his first AFL match.
Stretch is one of four changes for Saturday night’s clash against the Sydney Swans at the MCG, starting at 7:20pm.
The Demons have also rushed back key forward Chris Dawes, after he withdrew with a calf injury on the eve of last round’s clash against Fremantle.
Youngster Jimmy Toumpas has been recalled, after playing just one match this season in the opening round against Gold Coast at the MCG.
And ruckman Jake Spencer will play his first AFL game for 2015, after impressing with Casey in the VFL. The Queenslander has been on the cusp of selection all season, having been an emergency for three of the five rounds.
Making way for the quartet are ruckman Mark Jamar, former co-captain Jack Grimes, midfielder Jordie McKenzie and ball-winner Viv Michie.
Jamar has played every match this season, while Michie has played the past two rounds. Grimes and McKenzie are out of the side again after making their first appearance each last weekend.
Manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said Stretch had earned his opportunity with impressive VFL form.
“Since Billy’s arrived at the club, he’s showed that he’s very coachable and done exactly what the coaches have been asking for,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“He’s been doing it now for a month at VFL level and he deserves his opportunity to play his first game on Saturday night.”
Stretch was claimed by Melbourne as a father/son selection last year.
And he was officially drafted at pick No.42 overall – Melbourne’s third round selection.
Mahoney said Dawes had overcome his injury and was ready to go, while he added that Spencer and Toumpas had forced their way into the side with strong performances for Casey.
“Jake has been performing really well for Casey for more than a month now and we look forward to him bringing a competitive attitude to the game on the weekend,” he said.
“Jimmy’s form has been building each week for the past month and he also deserves his opportunity to play on the weekend.
“Chris pulled up a bit sore in the calf after the main training session last week, but he’s trained all this week and he’s available to play.”
Jamar, utility Rohan Bail and versatile tall Jack Fitzpatrick have been named emergencies.
Bail and Fitzpatrick have yet to play for Melbourne this year, but were both among Casey’s best against Essendon at Windy Hill last Sunday.
Melbourne will be aiming to bounce back strongly from its worst performance of the season last weekend, when it went down to Freo by 68 points.
The Demons have won two matches this year.
Melbourne team: round six
B: Colin Garland, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe
HB: Christian Salem, Lynden Dunn, Heritier Lumumba
C: Jimmy Toumpas, Bernie Vince, Daniel Cross
HF: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Jay Kennedy-Harris
F: Cameron Pedersen, Chris Dawes, Angus Brayshaw
Foll: Jake Spencer, Nathan Jones, Don Tyson
I/C: Jack Watts, Billy Stretch, Ben Newton, Aaron vandenBerg
Emg: Mark Jamar, Rohan Bail, Jack Fitzpatrick
In: Chris Dawes, Jake Spencer, Jimmy Toumpas, Billy Stretch
Out: Mark Jamar, Jack Grimes, Jordie McKenzie, Viv Michie
New: Billy Stretch
