MELBOURNE has regained leadership group member Jordie McKenzie for Saturday’s practice match against the Gold Coast Suns at Southport. 

McKenzie missed last Saturday’s 25-point loss to St Kilda at Casey Fields, after falling ill to gastro the night before the match.

Utility Neville Jetta and ruckman Jake Spencer, who didn’t play against the Saints, but were in the initial team announcement, have been retained in the 27 man squad.

Rebounding defender James Strauss has been added to the group this week.

Strauss was a member of Melbourne’s win against Port Adelaide in Renmark in the second round of the NAB Cup.

Defender Joel Macdonald, who played against the Saints, has been left out of the squad.

The match will be Melbourne’s final pre-season clash before its opening round contest against Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday, March 31.

Promising young forward Jesse Hogan is set to play his fifth match of the pre-season, given he won’t be eligible to play in the premiership season, and will not be officially listed until 2014.

Colin Sylvia, Daniel Nicholson, Cam Pedersen and James Magner are the only other Demons who will have played in all five pre-season matches.

The match starts at 11:30 am (local time).


Practice match: Melbourne squad v Gold Coast Suns
1. Jesse Hogan
2. Nathan Jones
4. Jack Watts
5. Jimmy Toumpas
8. James Frawley
10. Shannon Byrnes
12. Colin Sylvia
13. Jordie McKenzie
14. Lynden Dunn
15. David Rodan
19. James Strauss
20. Colin Garland
21. Cam Pederson
22. James Magner
26. Daniel Nicholson
27. Tom Gillies
30. James Sellar
31. Jack Grimes
32. Michael Evans
35. Luke Tapscott
36. Aaron Davey
38. Jeremy Howe
39. Neville Jetta
40. Mark Jamar
42. Jake Spencer
45. Matt Jones
46. Dean Terlich