Ins: Jones

Outs: vandenBerg

Jones returns

Following consecutive wins over Gold Coast and Hawthorn, the Demons have made just one change for Round 8’s clash with Brisbane.

Veteran Nathan Jones has been named for Sunday night’s match at Metricon Stadium, returning for what will be his second game of the season.

After continually impressing in Melbourne’s scratch matches and on the training track in recent weeks, the former skipper has well and truly earned his spot, and will be eager to execute his role.

Jones hasn’t featured in the senior side since Round 2 but is expected to bring plenty of experience to a relatively young Demons side.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 08: Nathan Jones of the Demons trains during a Melbourne Demons AFL training session at Blacktown International Sportspark on July 08, 2020 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

The ones that missed

As announced on Wednesday, Aaron vandenBerg will miss the next two matches after fracturing his checkbone last weekend.

vandenBerg to miss two matches

Tom McDonald will also be on the sidelines, despite fully recovering from his eye injury, while Adam Tomlinson, Alex Neal-Bullen and Joel Smith haven’t been able to break back into the side either.

All four have been named as emergencies for Sunday night.

What it means

Melbourne will be hungry to get its third-straight win, given it hasn’t been able to do such thing since 2018.

The Dees jumped a few spots on the ladder with last week’s victory and now sit in 12th position. That’s just a game and percentage out of the eight, with one game up their sleeve.

It will also be their first clash at Metricon Stadium this season, having travelled to Queensland earlier this week.

Look out for

Christian Petracca is providing plenty of excitement for Demon fans.

The 24-year-old was everywhere last weekend, finishing with 29 disposals, 14 score involvements, four clearances and a goal.

If Petracca can continue his form, and if skipper Max Gawn can keep things up in the ruck, the Dees will prove damaging forward of centre.

Eyes will also be on Jones and his influence around the ground.

Oppo watch

Brisbane is playing some quality football, with Sunday night’s match set to be a big one.

The Lions recorded their fifth win of the season last weekend, defeating GWS by 20 points in Sydney, and are now just one game shy of top position on the ladder.

They will be without ruckman and former Demon, Stefan Martin, who was ruled out with a back injury on Thursday.

The two teams will again play in front of a crowd, welcoming fans to Metricon Stadium.

Full team