MELBOURNE has regained Richelle ‘Rocky’ Cranston for Saturday’s night’s NAB AFL Women's match against the Western Bulldogs at VU Whitten Oval.
The gridiron-turned-footballer missed last Saturday night’s win over Collingwood at Ikon Park due to suspension.
Forward Aliesha Newman has also come back into the team.
But, as announced earlier this week, Melbourne has lost defender Meg Downie for the rest of the season with a torn hamstring tendon.
Downie suffered the injury moments before she was collected and subsequently concussed by Collingwood’s Sophie Casey in a contest.
Emma Humphries, Cranston, Newman, Jasmine Grierson, Maddie Boyd and Alyssa Mifsud have been named on the interchange.
Ainslie Kemp and Sarah Jolly are the emergencies.
Stephanie De Bortoli is also out for the season, having recently undergone surgery on her Achilles.
AFLW round three: Melbourne team
B: Brooke Patterson, Mia-Rae Clifford, Katherine Smith
HB: Daisy Pearce, Laura Duryea, Shelley Scott
C: Harriet Cordner
HF: Karen Paxman, Lily Mithen, Deanna Berry
F: Sarah Lampard, Jessica Anderson, Cat Phillips
FOLL: Lauren Pearce, Mel Hickey, Elise O’Dea
I/C: Emma Humphries, Richelle Cranston, Aliesha Newman, Jasmine Grierson, Maddie Boyd, Alyssa Mifsud
EMG: Ainslie Kemp, Sarah Jolly
In: Cranston, Newman
Out: Downie (hamstring), Jolly
Injured/unavailable: Stephanie De Bortoli, Downie, Pepa Randall
