MELBOURNE has finalised its team for Sunday’s clash against Geelong Cats at Simmonds Stadium.
As announced earlier on Friday, the Demons lost key forward Jesse Hogan, who was replaced in the starting 18 by Rohan Bail.
Angus Brayshaw, Dom Tyson, Alex Neal-Bullen and Aidan Riley have been confirmed as starting on the bench.
Viv Michie, Dean Terlich and Jordie McKenzie have been named emergencies.
On Friday, midfielder Michie was left out from last week’s side.
Key forward Chris Dawes will return from injury after having a frustrating season, having missed the opening round through a one-week suspension carried over from last season.
He returned in round two and played the next three matches, before he missed Melbourne’s loss to Fremantle in round five with a calf injury.
Dawes returned for round six against the Sydney Swans and played against Hawthorn the following week, before he was sidelined for the next three matches with a calf injury.
Melbourne is aiming for its first win against Geelong since round six, 2006 and its first win at the Cattery since round 20, 2005.
Melbourne team: round 12
B: Daniel Cross, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB: Jeremy Howe, Lynden Dunn, Heritier Lumumba
C: Jimmy Toumpas, Dom Tyson, Jack Viney
HF: Jack Watts, Chris Dawes, Billy Stretch
F: Jeff Garlett, Jake Spencer, Angus Brayshaw
FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince
I/C: Aidan Riley, Alex Neal-Bullen, Rohan Bail, Matt Jones
EMG: Jordie McKenzie, Viv Michie, Dean Terlich
IN: Rohan Bail, Chris Dawes, Jake Spencer, Matt Jones
OUT: Jack Grimes (Hand), Viv Michie (Omitted), Cameron Pedersen (Hand), Jesse Hogan (Soreness)
