St Kilda has made three changes at the selection table ahead of Saturday’s clash with Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, with first-round draftee Jade Gresham recalled to Alan Richardson’s side.

Key forward Tim Membrey will make his first appearance of 2016 against the Demons, whilst Blake Acres has been recalled after being left out of last weekend’s 47-point loss to Greater Western Sydney.

Emerging key forward Paddy McCartin headlines the outs, with the former No. 1 draft pick having his workload managed after playing the last four weeks in the senior setup. Small forward Jack Lonie and key defender Tom Lee have both been omitted.

After debuting against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval in Round 1, 18-year-old midfielder Gresham was dropped after St Kilda’s disappointing loss to Western Bulldogs in Round 2.

But following two strong performances with Sandringham, including a 32-possession, eight-tackle haul against Footscray last weekend, Gresham has earned another opportunity at the highest level.

After overcoming a shoulder reconstruction in the off-season, Membrey returns to Richardson’s side for the first time since Round 21 last year. The 21-year-old spearhead played 12 games in his maiden season at Linen House Centre and returns to the fold in decent form following an eye-catching performance in the VFL.

Third-year midfielder Acres has been recalled for his third appearance of the season, after playing in the Saints’ Round 1 loss to Port Adelaide and Round 4 loss to Hawthorn. The West Australian didn’t play at any level last weekend, after being held over as the emergency for the St Kilda game last Sunday.

Following a comprehensive contested and uncontested ball loss to Greater Western Sydney last weekend, St Kilda will have spent plenty of time focusing on rectifying those facets of their game ahead of Saturday’s encounter with the in-form Demons, who are coming off their first consecutive victories since mid-2011.

The form of Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn and hard-nosed midfielder Jack Viney has drawn plaudits from across the entire football industry, with their dominance around the ball transforming the Demons into of the premier stoppages teams in the game.

After five rounds, the pair, along with Captain Nathan Jones and Dom Tyson in tight, have helped the Demons to be ranked third for hitouts differential (+12), second for hitouts to advantage differential (+5.6), fourth for clearances differential (+3.2) and fourth for scores from clearances differential (+11).

With David Armitage returning to near his best in the last fortnight and Jack Steven averaging just over 30 touches per game this season, the Saints will require a full spread of midfield contribution to get stifle Melbourne’s potency around the ball. An area they have been inconsistent in this season, as the performances against the Dogs and Giants can attest too.

The Demons announced on Wednesday they would finally unveil 2014 No. 2 draft pick Christian Petracca, after the powerfully built midfielder proved his fitness in the VFL over the last month. The highly regarded teenager ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament at the start of last year, forcing him to spend his first year in the AFL on the sidelines.