TALL UTILITY Cameron Pedersen headlines three changes for Melbourne’s round 23 clash with West Coast at Patersons Stadium on Saturday.

Pedersen and Jack Fitzpatrick have been named in the starting lineup, while Rohan Bail has been named on the bench.

Co-captain Jack Grimes will miss with a hamstring injury while Dom Barry and Aidan Riley have both been omitted.

With Melbourne needing to combat West Coast’s bevy of key forwards, the taller side provides extra flexibility at both ends of the ground.

Pedersen has played 18 games for the year and returns to the senior side after performing strongly for Casey last round, racking up 22 disposals, 11 marks and three goals in the Scorpions’ loss to Footscray.

Fitzpatrick played the opening three matches of the season but has not featured in the senior side since, with a series of strong performances for Casey seeing the ruck/forward named emergency for the past two weeks.

Bail returns to the senior lineup after missing last week’s game against Greater Western Sydney.

Grimes has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after re-injuring his hamstring against the Giants. 

In his debut season, Barry has played four senior matches, while Riley has made eight appearances in his first year at the club.

The match will also mark milestones for two key Demons.

Bernie Vince will play his 150th AFL match, while key forward Chris Dawes will run out in his 100th career game.

Melbourne will be aiming for its fifth win of the season.

The two sides last faced off in round two, with the Demons slumping to a disappointing 93-point loss. Melbourne’s last win against the Eagles was back in Round 14, 2009.

Melbourne team: round 22
B: Lynden Dunn, James Frawley, Colin Garland
HB: Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Jeremy Howe
C: Matt Jones, Jack Viney, Daniel Cross
HF: Bernie Vince, Cameron Pedersen, Jack Watts
F: Max Gawn, Chris Dawes, Jack Fitzpatrick
FOLL: Mark Jamar, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson
I/C: Christian Salem, Dean Kent, Viv Michie, Rohan Bail
EMG: Dom Barry, Jordie McKenzie, Aidan Riley

Live Blog Chat with Matt: Round 22 v West Coast