MELBOURNE has rushed back high-flyer Jeremy Howe and added another four players to its squad for Sunday’s clash against Fremantle at the MCG.
The Demons have included veteran David Rodan, speedster Sam Blease, ruckman Max Gawn and versatile tall Cameron Pedersen on its extended interchange.
As already known, Melbourne has lost rookie Mitch Clisby for the rest of the season, after he was suspended for three matches by the match review panel earlier in the week, following a rough conduct charge on Gold Coast’s Alex Sexton at Metricon Stadium last round.
Defender Daniel Nicholson, who came in for Howe against the Suns, has been left out of the side.
Forward Dean Kent, tough-nut Luke Tapscott and 2009 club champion Aaron Davey have also been named on the initial bench.
Three players will be named emergencies on Friday.
General manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said Howe was an important inclusion.
“Jeremy was a late withdrawal from the game on the Gold Coast, due to a calf injury,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“It was only a minor injury and he trained well during the week, so we look forward to having him back in the side.”
Mahoney said Rodan, Blease and Gawn were all in the mix to gain a call up.
“All three of those players performed strongly at Casey last week in their win against Frankston,” he said.
“They are continuing to put pressure on the team.”
Mahoney added that Pedersen had overcome his illness, which forced him to withdraw from the team on the eve of last round’s match.
“He was ill last week and missed the game, but he has progressed during the week and will be available to play this weekend,” he said.
Howe’s absence last Saturday night was the first time he’s missed an AFL match since he made his debut against Essendon in round 11, 2011.
Gawn has played 12 matches this year, while Pedersen and Blease have made nine appearances each. Rodan has featured in eight games.
The home clash will be Melbourne’s last MCG appearance for the 2013 season.
Round 21 Melbourne team
B: Lynden Dunn, Colin Garland, Dean Terlich
HB: Matt Jones, Tom McDonald, James Strauss
C: Jordie McKenzie, Jack Trengove, Jeremy Howe
HF: Jack Viney, Jack Watts, Shannon Byrnes
F: Colin Sylvia, Jack Fitzpatrick, Troy Davis
FOLL: Jake Spencer, Jack Grimes, Nathan Jones
I/C (from): David Rodan, Sam Blease, Cameron Pedersen, Dean Kent, Luke Tapscott, Aaron Davey, Max Gawn
IN: David Rodan, Sam Blease, Max Gawn, Jeremy Howe, Cameron Pedersen
OUT: Mitch Clisby (suspension), Daniel Nicholson
