MELBOURNE has been forced to adjust its final 22 for the clash with Hawthorn, as James Harmes withdraws due to an ear infection.

The Demons’ midfielder has been replaced in the line-up by Aaron vandenBerg, who will play his first minutes at the top level for the season.

vandenBerg was initially named as an emergency for Saturday’s game, after going unused as the medical sub two weeks earlier, and will be the only change to the Dees' side which beat Port Adelaide last round.

Key forward Sam Weideman now joins Jake Melksham, Joel Smith and Tom Sparrow on the emergency list, with one of the four to be announced as the substitute an hour before the first bounce at the MCG.

MELBOURNE BREAKS MEMBERSHIP RECORD