Jordan Roughead will return to the Western Bulldogs’ line-up ahead of its clash with Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday in place of Tom Boyd who’ll miss with back soreness.

Roughead is one of three inclusions to take on the Dees alongside Jackson Macrae and Mitch Honeychurch.

Boyd and Hayden Crozier (hamstring tightness) are both unavailable, while Marcus Bontempelli was ruled out on Wednesday after having surgery for appendicitis.

Roughead will play just his sixth match this season, his last senior appearance was against Melbourne in Round 11.

Macrae and Honeychurch will return for their first match since round 14.

Macrae missed a fortnight of football with a hamstring injury while Honeychurch has been given a senior recall following his 27 disposals, seven marks and five tackle performance in Footscray’s loss to Box Hill last Saturday.

In the absence of captain Easton Wood and vice-captain Marcus Bontempelli – Jason Johannisen, celebrating his 100th game milestone, will captain the side for the first time.

Saturday’s match will mark the Dogs’ first outing at MCG this year, with the team winning its past six games at the venue.

For full match and ticketing information click here.

AFL Round 17 Melbourne vs Western Bulldogs

Saturday 14 July 2018, 4:35pm AEST

Venue: MCG

Full back M Adams J Trengove R Smith Half back D Morris Z Cordy J Johannisen Centreline P Lipinski J Macrae L Hunter Half forward E Richards J Schache J Dunkley Full forward L Dahlhaus A Naughton B Gowers Followers J Roughead T McLean M Wallis Interchange M Honeychurch S Biggs C Daniel B Lynch Emergencies L Young T Campbell F Roberts F Greene

IN: J. Macrae, M. Honeychurch, J. Roughead

OUT: M. Bontempelli (appendicitis), H. Crozier (hamstring), T. Boyd (back)