MELBOURNE has been dealt a blow ahead of Saturday's clash against Hawthorn with co-captain Jack Grimes to miss through injury.
A late withdrawal from last Sunday’s loss to Brisbane, Grimes hasn’t come up following a hamstring injury.
The Demons have made five changes for the game, with veteran midfielder Daniel Cross a welcome addition to the side.
The former Bulldog is joined by Matt Jones, Max Gawn, Viv Michie and Dom Barry as the ins, while tagger Jordie McKenzie has been dropped as has utility Cameron Pedersen, Sam Blease and Dean Terlich, while Luke Tapscott is out injured.
Grimes’ omission is a blow for the young Demons who will need as many experienced and hardened bodies around the footy against the Hawks on Saturday.
A finals-hardened team, the Hawks possesses a number of gun bid-bodied players through the midfield, including the returning Sam Mitchell, Jordan Lewis and Captain, Luke Hodge.
Grimes brings with him much-needed that experience and as well as drive from defence and the ability to push into the midfield.
He has averaged 19.2 disposals in 17 games this year, while he picked up a season-high 23 points in his team’s narrow loss to Richmond in Round 9.
Grimes provides run through the midfield for the Demons, ranked in the top five at his club for uncontested possessions and rebound 50s.
Cross’s inclusion is a good one for the Demons though, given he has added much-needed leadership to the midfield and has averaged the fifth-most disposals of any Demon this year with 21.9.
He is ranked third on average for contested possessions (9.2), fifth for clearances (2.5) and fifth for centre clearances.
Cross has also been used as an effective tagger, shutting down some of the game’s elite midfielders including Collingwood’s Dayne Beams on Easter Monday.
He returns from a fractured fibula sustained in Round 14.
Round 20
Hawthorn v Melbourne
Saturday 9 August
MCG, 4.40pm
HAWTHORN
B: Taylor Duryea, Josh Gibson, Matt Spangher
HB: Luke Hodge, Ben Stratton, Grant Birchall
C: Isaac Smith, Sam Mitchell, Matthew Suckling
HF: Bradley Hill, Ryan Schoenmakers, Luke Breust
F: Paul Puopolo, Jarryd Roughead, Jordan Lewis
Fol: Ben McEvoy, Shaun Burgoyne, Liam Shiels
I/C: David Hale, Jonathan Simpkin, Billy Hartung, Will Langford
Emg: Angus Litherland, Alex Woodward, Jonathon Ceglar
IN: Isaac Smith, Sam Mitchell, Billy Hartung,
OUT: Alex Woodward (Omitted), Jack Gunston (knee), Angus Litherland (omitted)
MELBOURNE
B Colin Garland, Lynden Dunn, Jeremy Howe.
HB Neville Jetta, Tom McDonald, Matt Jones.
C Rohan Bail, Bernie Vince, Daniel Cross.
HF Jay Kennedy-Harris, James Frawley, Jack Watts.
F Mark Jamar, Chris Dawes, Dean Kent.
Fol Max Gawn, Nathan Jones, Dom Tyson.
I/C Jack Viney, Viv Michie, Aidan Riley, Dom Barry.
Emg Jordie McKenzie, Daniel Nicholson, Jack Fitzpatrick.
IN: Matt Jones, Daniel Cross, Max Gawn, Viv Michie, Dom Barry.
OUT: Jordie McKenzie (omitted), Cameron Pedersen (Omitted), Luke Tapscott (knee), Sam Blease (omitted), Dean Terlich (omitted).
