MELBOURNE has added five players to its 25-man squad for Sunday’s clash against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium.
The Demons have included rebounder Dean Terlich, mature-age rookie Alex Georgiou, ruckman Max Gawn, defender Daniel Nicholson and potential debutant Dom Barry to their extended squad.
The quintet has been named on Melbourne’s interchange, along with first-year Demon Christian Salem and tough-nut Aidan Riley.
As already known, the Demons have lost midfielders Daniel Cross with a broken leg and Jordie McKenzie through suspension.
Cross is expected to miss the next four to six matches and McKenzie accepted a one-match sanction for striking North Melbourne’ Lindsay Thomas last round.
Coach Paul Roos flagged on Dee TV on Wednesday that Terlich was set to return, but the final make-up of the 22 will be announced on Friday evening.
“Dean Terlich is probably one who comes very much into the frame, because Dean did go back [to the VFL] two weeks ago and played really well. He didn’t play [last] weekend and was an emergency,” he said on Roos’ Views.
Terlich has played 11 matches this season and has been an emergency for the past two rounds.
In his first AFL season, Georgiou played in the opening seven rounds, but was replaced by defender Colin Garland in round eight, when the leader returned from an ankle injury.
But development coach Brett Allison told melbournefc.com.au that Georgiou played his best match yet in the VFL last week.
Gawn has played three matches this year from rounds nine to 11, after a hamstring interrupted the start of his season.
He has been in good form since in the VFL and two weeks ago had 63 hit outs.
Nicholson has yet to add to his 31 matches in 2014, but has been an emergency six times this year.
His has been a consistent performer for Casey this season.
Barry is in his second season at the club, but has yet to make his AFL debut, despite playing in last year’s Indigenous All Stars team that represented Australia against Ireland in the International Rules Series.
He has been an emergency once this season, against Greater Western Sydney in round three, but has been building his form in the VFL and produced a strong run-with role last weekend.
The rejuvenated Neville Jetta will play his 50th AFL match this round, after playing eight matches this season.
Jetta, who was relegated to the rookie list for the 2014 season, has since bounced back to career-best form, after injuries had previously halted his game.
Meanwhile, this round’s clash against the Demons and Bulldogs will have a curtain-raiser: the second AFL women’s exhibition match – also between the Dees and Dogs – which will start at 10.10 am.
The round 15 clash will then start at 1.10 pm.
Melbourne team: round 15
B: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe
HB: Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Jack Grimes
C: Jack Watts, Jack Viney, Bernie Vince
HF: Rohan Bail, Chris Dawes, Matt Jones
F: Cam Pedersen, James Frawley, Dean Kent
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Dom Tyson, Nathan Jones
I/C (from): Dom Barry, Max Gawn, Alex Georgiou, Daniel Nicholson, Dean Terlich, Christian Salem, Aidan Riley
IN: Dean Terlich, Alex Georgiou, Max Gawn, Daniel Nicholson, Dom Barry
OUT: Daniel Cross (leg), Jordie McKenzie (suspension)
