MELBOURNE has made two changes ahead of Sunday afternoon’s clash against St Kilda at the MCG.
As announced, first-year defender Harry Petty will make his senior debut, while key forward Sam Weideman will return for the Demons.
Tall Tim Smith and veteran defender Bernie Vince have been omitted.
“It’s great news for the club with a debutant – our third [AFL] debutant [and our fourth to play their first game for Melbourne] this year,” coach Simon Goodwin told Melbourne Media.
“To have Harrison Petty get his first game – a key position player, who plays down back, plays with a competitive spirit, goes at the footy and fits our team incredibly well.
“We’re really excited to get him into the team.”
Weideman’s recall comes after the 21-year-old kicked seven goals for the Casey Demons VFL last weekend.
Sunday’s match will mark his fifth for the season, following four consecutive AFL appearances between rounds five and eight.
Vince has been named as an emergency, along with Charlie Spargo, Billy Stretch and Cam Pedersen.
General manager of football operations Josh Mahoney said despite the omission, he’s expecting 32-year-old Vince to reclaim his spot.
“Bernie remains an important player for our football club,” Mahoney told Melbourne Media.
“He knows his form hasn’t been at its best, but we expect him to go back, play well and find his way back into the team.
“We’re confident Bernie can return to the required level and have an impact for us for the rest of the season.”
Melbourne will look to get back on the winners’ list, after suffering consecutive losses to Collingwood and Port Adelaide.
But despite last round’s 10-point defeat to Power, Goodwin said his side’s game style and intent had returned, following an underwhelming performance the week prior.
“Clearly when you play the way that we played, you’re probably in a position where you’re a chance to win the game away from home in a hostile environment, so that was disappointing,” he said.
“But I was really happy with the way the players played.
“I thought we got our game back from Queen’s Birthday to a really high level, which I think puts us in a really good position as a group to move forward.”
The red and blue will play St Kilda for the second time this season – it was a 39-point victory for the Demons last time they met in round seven.
And with the Saints coming off a win, Goodwin said it’s another important game for his team.
“It’s always a really tough battle against St Kilda and it has been for a number of years now,” he said.
“We know we’re up against a club that’s had a win and they’re back into some good form.
“We’re going to have to be at our best at the MCG on Sunday.”
The match will also mark The Welcome Game for the Demons; an inclusive event that promotes a message of welcoming everyone to Australian football, the MCG and the Melbourne Football Club.
Now in its second year, Goodwin said it’s an exciting day for both new and existing supporters of the club.
“It was a fantastic initiative last year and we’re going to see lots of new fans that haven’t experienced the game of Aussie Rules before, getting along to the MCG to support the Dees.”
Melbourne team: round 15
B: Harry Petty, Oscar McDonald, Neville Jetta
HB: Michael Hibberd, Joel Smith, Jordan Lewis
C: Christian Petracca, Jack Viney, Angus Brayshaw
HF: Christian Salem, Jesse Hogan, Clayton Oliver
F: Alex Neal-Bullen, Mitch Hannan, Tom McDonald
Foll: Max Gawn, Jake Melksham, Nathan Jones
I/C: James Harmes, Dom Tyson, Sam Weideman, Bayley Fritsch
Emg: Charlie Spargo, Billy Stretch, Cameron Pedersen, Bernie Vince
In: Petty, Weideman
Out: T.Smith, Vince
