MELBOURNE has made just one change for Sunday’s clash against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium, with midfielder Angus Brayshaw returning for his first match since round five.

Brayshaw has come back into the side for another second-year player, Billy Stretch, who has been relegated to an emergency.

Tough-nut Tomas Bugg and defender Josh Wagner, who were initially included in the 25-man squad on Thursday night, have been named emergencies.  

Brayshaw has been named on the interchange, along with former Magpie Ben Kennedy, rookie Mitch White and utility Matt Jones.

It will be Brayshaw’s fourth appearance for the season, after battling concussion for much of 2016. In his debut season last year, he missed just one game when he was rested in the second last round. 

For Stretch, he has played 10 matches this season, including the past nine.

Coach Paul Roos said on Friday that Oscar McDonald (ankle) and Bernie Vince (leg) were set to play, after they suffered injuries during last Saturday’s 32-point win over Fremantle at TIO Stadium.

Bugg will miss just his second match for Melbourne since joining the club from Greater Western Sydney at the end of last year.

Wagner, who made his AFL debut in round three against North Melbourne at Blundstone Arena, missed the past two matches with a knee injury. Up until the injury, he had played 11 matches in a row.   

Former Melbourne co-captain Jack Grimes, who impressed in his first match for the season last round with 32 disposals, will notch up his 100th AFL game against the Saints.

It will be the third time Melbourne has played St Kilda at Etihad Stadium this season. The red and blue defeated the Saints during the NAB Challenge, but lost in round six.

Melbourne will be aiming to end a 13-match losing streak against the Saints.

Melbourne team: round 17

B: Sam Frost, Tom McDonald, Neville Jetta

HB: Jayden Hunt, Oscar McDonald, Jack Grimes

C: Christian Petracca, Bernie Vince, Dom Tyson

HF: Jeff Garlett, Jack Watts, James Harmes

F: Aaron vandenBerg, Jesse Hogan, Dean Kent

Foll: Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Jack Viney

I/C: Angus Brayshaw, Ben Kennedy, Mitch White, Matt Jones

Emg: Billy Stretch, Tomas Bugg, Josh Wagner

In: Bugg, Wagner, Brayshaw

Out: Stretch