MELBOURNE will unveil two new players – Jake Lever and Bayley Fritsch – for Sunday’s clash against Geelong Cats at the MCG.

Lever, who played 56 games with Adelaide Crows from 2015-17, was one of the biggest names to switch clubs over the off-season.

The 22-year-old, originally from Romsey/Calder Cannons, was a member of last year’s All-Australian squad. He looms as an integral member of Melbourne’s long-term future.

Fritsch was recruited by Melbourne at No.31 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft.

Originally from Coldstream, Fritsch had an outstanding season with the Casey Demons last year, kicking 42 goals and winning the Fothergill-Round Medal for the VFL’s best young player. The 21-year-old will become the 1336th player to play for Melbourne since 1897.  

Both players have been named in the starting 18.

The Cats have not named superstar Patrick Dangerfield, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, but returning Geelong great Gary Ablett has been named. 

The Demons have named eight players on their extended interchange: Angus Brayshaw, Dom Tyson, Sam Frost, Jake Melksham, Mitch Hannan, Corey Maynard, Tom Bugg and Josh Wagner.

The final team will be named on Friday evening – four on the bench and four emergencies, one up from last year and recent times, when three were previously named.  

Reigning best and fairest winner, Clayton Oliver, who signed a new contract on Thursday, will play after suffering a bruised knee during the recent JLT Community Series.  

Nathan Jones (back), Jordan Lewis (calf), Alex Neal-Bullen (quadriceps) and James Harmes (concussion) have all overcome recent setbacks and have been named.

Only two players – the injured Tom McDonald (foot) and Jack Watts (now at Port Adelaide) – are missing from Melbourne’s last home and away match of the season in 2017.

Given it’s a squad, three players have come into the mix: Corey Maynard, Tom Bugg and Josh Wagner. If Maynard plays, it will be his second AFL game, after he made his debut against GWS Giants in Canberra last year.

McDonald and co-captain Jack Viney (foot) will miss the next six to eight weeks, after coach Simon Goodwin confirmed it on Thursday. 

Aaron vandenBerg (ankle) and Pat McKenna (hamstring) are both sidelined indefinitely. 

Round one
Sunday, March 25
Melbourne v Geelong Cats, MCG
Home, 3.20pm

Melbourne

B: Michael Hibberd, Jake Lever, Neville Jetta

HB: Jayden Hunt, Oscar McDonald, Nathan Jones

C: Bernie Vince, Jordan Lewis, Christian Salem

HF: Christian Petracca, Cam Pedersen, James Harmes

F: Bayley Fritsch, Jesse Hogan, Jeff Garlett

Foll: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Alex Neal-Bullen

I/C (from): Angus Brayshaw, Dom Tyson, Sam Frost, Jake Melksham, Mitch Hannan, Corey Maynard, Tom Bugg, Josh Wagner

Geelong

B: Jake Kolodjashnij, Harry Taylor, Zach Tuohy

HB: Mark Blicavs, Tom Stewart, Jed Bews

C: Cam Guthrie, Joel Selwood, Mitch Duncan

HF: Cory Gregson, Rhys Stanley, James Parsons

F: Daniel Menzel, Tom Hawkins, Brendan Parfitt

R: Zac Smith, Gary Ablett, Sam Menegola

I/C (from): Charlie Constable, Jordan Cunico, Lachie Fogarty, Zac Guthrie, Tim Kelly, Jordan Murdoch, Esava Ratugolea, Mark O’Connor