MELBOURNE has added three players to its 25-man squad for Sunday’s clash against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
Tough-nut Tomas Bugg, defender Josh Wagner and midfielder Angus Brayshaw have been added to the initial line-up.
The trio has been named on the extended interchange, along with second-year player Billy Stretch, former Magpie Ben Kennedy, rookie Mitch White and utility Matt Jones.
No players have been omitted – at this stage – from last Saturday night’s 32-point win over Fremantle at TIO Stadium in Darwin. The final team will be named on Friday evening.
Coach Paul Roos said the final make-up of the side would be difficult to determine, given Melbourne defeated Fremantle by 32 points at TIO Stadium last Saturday night.
“I thought everyone played their role [last round], which we want players to be able to do,” he said on Roos’ Views.
“Oscar McDonald rolled his ankle and looks likely to play, but we’ll still have to wait for him.
“Bernie Vince looks fine and it was a terrific effort to get through the game [last round after hurting his leg].
“Our VFL team didn’t play last week, but their performance has been good, so it’s all balancing that up and it’ll be hard to leave anyone out of the side that played last week, but we’ll have a look and see [on Friday].”
Bugg is back in the mix, after being omitted last round. It was the first time he had missed for Melbourne since joining the club from Greater Western Sydney at the end of last year.
Wagner, who made his AFL debut in round three against North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena, is a chance to return after missing the past two matches with a knee injury. Up until the injury, he had played 11 matches in a row.
And Brayshaw is in contention to make his first appearance for the red and blue since round five, after battling concussion for much of the season. He has played just three games this year, after missing just one in his debut season last year.
Former Melbourne co-captain Jack Grimes, who impressed in his first match for the season last round with 32 disposals, will notch up his 100th AFL game against the Saints.
It will be the third time Melbourne has played St Kilda at Etihad Stadium this season. The red and blue defeated the Saints during the NAB Challenge, but lost in round six.
Melbourne will be aiming to end a 13-match losing streak against the Saints.
Melbourne team: round 17
B: Sam Frost, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB: Jayden Hunt, Oscar McDonald, Jack Grimes
C: Christian Petracca, Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson
HF: Jeff Garlett, Jack Watts, James Harmes
F: Aaron vandenBerg, Jesse Hogan, Dean Kent
Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney
I/C (from): Angus Brayshaw, Billy Stretch, Tomas Bugg, Ben Kennedy, Mitch White, Josh Wagner, Matt Jones
In: Bugg, Wagner, Brayshaw
Out: –
