MELBOURNE has made two changes to its side to face Port Adelaide at TIO Traeger Park on Saturday.
In-form small defender Neville Jetta returns from suspension, while Dom Tyson is back in the side after missing last week’s game through illness.
“Dom and Nev will definitely come back in,” coach Paul Roos told Melbourne TV on Roos Views.
“Nev was out with suspension, so he’ll come back in [while] Dom comes back in [after illness].”
First year player Clayton Oliver (quad) will miss the game, after suffering a corked thigh in the game against Brisbane Lions, while Viv Michie has been omitted.
Roos said while there would just be the two changes this week, it was important to manage the load of the players throughout the year.
“We’ve adjusted the [training] week a little bit and the load,” Roos said.
“It’s something we’ll keep an eye on over the next two or three weeks.
“It’s something we need to do as a coaching group – keep an eye on the young group, just to make sure that we’re performing at our maximum every week.”
Meanwhile, key forward Chris Dawes has been named in the squad as an emergency for the first time in 2016, having overcome a pre-season calf injury.
Melbourne team vs Port Adelaide
Backs: Josh Wagner Tom McDonald Neville Jetta
Half Backs: Tomas Bugg Oscar McDonald Colin Garland
Centre line Billy Stretch Dom Tyson Bernie Vince
Half Forwards: Dean Kent Jack Watts Jeff Garlett
Forwards Christian Petracca Jesse Hogan Ben Kennedy
Followers Max Gawn Nathan Jones Jack Viney
Interchange Ben Newton Jayden Hunt Alex Neal-Bullen James Harmes
Emergencies Chris Dawes Viv Michie Jack Grimes
In: Neville Jetta, Dom Tyson
Out: Viv Michie (Omitted), Clayton Oliver (Quad)
