MELBOURNE will be buoyed by the return of an experienced duo for its Easter Sunday clash with the Suns.
Jake Melksham and Daniel Turner have both been named to face the Gold Coast, with Melksham breaking through for his first AFL match of 2026 following an interrupted pre-season.
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The 34-year-old former Bomber is closing in on a major milestone, set to run out for the 249th time against the Suns.
Turner returns to the lineup after just one absence with a broken hand which he suffered against the Dockers in Round 2.
FULL TEAM LISTED BELOW
The injured pairing of Changkuoth Jiath (calf, 3-4 weeks) and Patrick Cross (thumb, 4-5 weeks) make way for the incoming duo.
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| Player | Injury | Estimated Return |
|---|---|---|
42. Aidan Johnson |
Knee |
Available
“AJ, Luker and Matt will all return to full training and will look to be available for selection at the end of this week,” Griffith said. Read Article |
|
21. Matt Jefferson |
Foot |
Available
“AJ, Luker and Matt will all return to full training and will look to be available for selection at the end of this week,” Griffith said. Read Article |
|
44. Luker Kentfield |
Knee |
Available
“AJ, Luker and Matt will all return to full training and will look to be available for selection at the end of this week,” Griffith said. |
|
10. Daniel Turner |
Hand |
Test
“Daniel’s wound has been cleared, and he has progressed back into ball work and running,” Griffith said. “We’ll look to increase his contact and contest work across the week to assess his availability following our main training session.” |
|
34. Kalani White |
Glandular Fever |
1 week
“Kalani has returned to full training and now he’ll complete a full week of conditioning to be available the following week,” Griffith said. |
|
23. Shane McAdam |
Achilles |
2 - 3 weeks
“Shane continues to work hard recovering from that Achilles rupture,” Griffith said. “He’s just looking to build his training integration and high intensity running before we see him return to play in the coming weeks.” Read Article |
|
14. Changkuoth Jiath |
Calf |
3 - 4 weeks
“Unfortunately, CJ experienced some soreness in his calf during the game and was subsequently removed from play,” Griffith said. “Scans have confirmed that he has suffered a low-grade soleus strain. He’ll now enter our rehab program, and we’ll further assess his availability in the coming days." |
|
41. Patrick Cross |
Thumb |
4 - 5 weeks
“Paddy had an incident involving his thumb late in the game and scans have unfortunately shown that he dislocated his thumb, which resulted in ligament tears. “He consulted with a specialist and underwent surgery today. We’ll assess his return to play plan following wound clearance and further consultation with the surgeon.” |
|
17. Jake Bowey |
Foot |
5 - 7 weeks
“Jake has returned to straight-line running which is an exciting progression for him,” Griffith said. “Now we’ll build his tolerance to running loads and skills-based conditioning.” |
|
29. Tom Campbell |
Neck |
TBC
“Tom was involved in an innocuous collision at training and has suffered a neck injury,” Richardson said. “He’s torn a ligament and will remain in a neck brace for the next month. He’ll see a neurosurgeon this week to determine the path forward for him.” |
|
7. Jack Viney |
Achilles |
TBC
“Jack has progressed to light running duties as we continue to build his calf and Achillies strength.” Read Article |
42. Aidan Johnson
“AJ, Luker and Matt will all return to full training and will look to be available for selection at the end of this week,” Griffith said.
Read Article
21. Matt Jefferson
“AJ, Luker and Matt will all return to full training and will look to be available for selection at the end of this week,” Griffith said.
Read Article
44. Luker Kentfield
“AJ, Luker and Matt will all return to full training and will look to be available for selection at the end of this week,” Griffith said.
10. Daniel Turner
“Daniel’s wound has been cleared, and he has progressed back into ball work and running,” Griffith said. “We’ll look to increase his contact and contest work across the week to assess his availability following our main training session.”
34. Kalani White
“Kalani has returned to full training and now he’ll complete a full week of conditioning to be available the following week,” Griffith said.
23. Shane McAdam
“Shane continues to work hard recovering from that Achilles rupture,” Griffith said. “He’s just looking to build his training integration and high intensity running before we see him return to play in the coming weeks.”
Read Article
14. Changkuoth Jiath
“Unfortunately, CJ experienced some soreness in his calf during the game and was subsequently removed from play,” Griffith said. “Scans have confirmed that he has suffered a low-grade soleus strain. He’ll now enter our rehab program, and we’ll further assess his availability in the coming days."
41. Patrick Cross
“Paddy had an incident involving his thumb late in the game and scans have unfortunately shown that he dislocated his thumb, which resulted in ligament tears. “He consulted with a specialist and underwent surgery today. We’ll assess his return to play plan following wound clearance and further consultation with the surgeon.”
17. Jake Bowey
“Jake has returned to straight-line running which is an exciting progression for him,” Griffith said. “Now we’ll build his tolerance to running loads and skills-based conditioning.”
29. Tom Campbell
“Tom was involved in an innocuous collision at training and has suffered a neck injury,” Richardson said. “He’s torn a ligament and will remain in a neck brace for the next month. He’ll see a neurosurgeon this week to determine the path forward for him.”
7. Jack Viney
“Jack has progressed to light running duties as we continue to build his calf and Achillies strength.”
Read ArticleLast Updated:
The Gold Coast face injury concerns of their own with former Demon Christian Petracca absent with a hamstring injury, while rising young gun Bailey Humphries misses through suspension.
Reigning Brownlow medallist Matt Rowell has been included in the Suns’ squad.
Gates open from 2:00pm at the MCG, with the first siren scheduled for 3:15pm.
The LEGO® Kids Hub will be located between Gates 2 and 3 for all your Easter Sunday family fun, with a Yarra Park Easter Egg Hunt locked in for 12:45pm.
