MELBOURNE has finalised its 22 for Monday’s Queen’s Birthday clash against Collingwood at the MCG, leaving out former co-captain Jack Grimes and ruckman Jake Spencer.
The duo has been named emergencies, joining midfielder Viv Michie, who was initially added to the 25 squad, but didn’t make the final side.
Grimes has played four of the past five matches and Spencer has featured in the previous four rounds. Michie has made three appearances this season and it will be the fourth time he has been named an emergency this year.
Forward Jack Watts, utility Jimmy Toumpas, first-year Demon Angus Brayshaw and midfielder Matt Jones have been retained in the side that lost to Port Adelaide at TIO Traeger Park last round, having been named on the interchange.
On Thursday night, ruckman Max Gawn was named for his first match of the 2015 home and away season, having been selected in the No.1 ruck position.
Gawn, who has been named an emergency four times this season, has produced some strong form for Casey in recent weeks.
Melbourne also named midfielders Ben Newton and Aidan Riley in the starting 18.
Newton played the opening six rounds of the season, but was an emergency in rounds seven and nine. His most recent game for Melbourne was in round eight in its win over the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.
Riley, who has been an emergency twice this season, played in the red and blue’s win over the Dogs. He started as a sub in that match.
Utility Rohan Bail, who has played three matches this year, from rounds seven to nine, was been omitted.
Manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said Gawn had earned his recall.
“We’ve been waiting for Max to put some good form together in the VFL and his past three or four games for the Casey Scorpions have been very good,” he told melbournefc.com.au.
“He’s now got his opportunity to play his first game for the year.”
Mahoney said Newton and Riley were unfortunate to be left out in recent weeks.
“Both Ben and Aidan were unlucky to be out of the team,” he said.
“But with Neville Jetta and Jack Viney returning last week, they (Newton and Riley) didn’t play, but they’ll get another opportunity to play on Monday.”
Mahoney said midfielder Dom Tyson would play in the VFL this weekend, after missing the past two matches with a knee injury.
“We had a look at Dom’s [training] loads over the past few weeks and although he’s only missed a couple of games of footy, we felt it was best for him to play a full game in the VFL on Saturday,” he said.
“We feel that will give him the best chance to be involved and play in the AFL side.
“It also sets up him up for a good season, rather than rushing him back.”
Melbourne team: round 10
B: Colin Garland, Tom McDonald, Jack Fitzpatrick
HB: Jeremy Howe, Lynden Dunn, Neville Jetta
C: Daniel Cross, Aaron vandenBerg, Heritier Lumumba
HF: Ben Newton, Cam Pedersen, Jack Viney
F: Jeff Garlett, Jesse Hogan, Aidan Riley
FOLL: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Bernie Vince
I/C: Jack Watts, Jimmy Toumpas, Angus Brayshaw, Matt Jones
EMG: Viv Michie, Jack Grimes, Jake Spencer
IN: Max Gawn, Aidan Riley, Ben Newton
OUT: Rohan Bail, Jack Grimes, Jake Spencer
