MELBOURNE has finalised its round one team, naming Jake Melksham, Mitch Hannan, Corey Maynard and Josh Wagner on its interchange for Sunday’s clash against Geelong Cats at the MCG.



Angus Brayshaw, Dom Tyson, Sam Frost and Tom Bugg are the emergencies.



On Thursday night, Melbourne confirmed it would unveil two new players: Jake Lever and Bayley Fritsch.



Lever, who played 56 games with Adelaide Crows from 2015-17, was one of the biggest names to switch clubs over the off-season. The 22-year-old, originally from Romsey/Calder Cannons, was a member of last year’s All-Australian squad. He looms as an integral member of Melbourne’s long-term future.



Fritsch was recruited by Melbourne at No.31 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft.



Originally from Coldstream, Fritsch had an outstanding season with the Casey Demons last year, kicking 42 goals and winning the Fothergill-Round Medal for the VFL’s best young player.



The 21-year-old will become the 1336th player to play a VFL/AFL match for Melbourne since it became a foundation team in 1897.



Coach Simon Goodwin said it had been “a huge pre-season” and the players had “put in an incredible amount of hard work”.



“We’re really excited about the position that they’ve put themselves in. We know it’s only getting to the start line, but it’s been exciting. They’re very much a unified group – they’re together and have worked incredibly hard. We’ve put ourselves in a position where we’ve got lots of players for selection,” he said.



“It’s exciting for the club with a few new faces in the team from last year. We’ll have a debutant in Bayley Fritsch and it’s fantastic for our Casey pathway, in terms of being involved in our footy club … I think it’s helped him adapt to AFL standard.



“Jake Lever, we got across to the club for a specific purpose, and he’s going to be terrific – just watching him run out there on Sunday in the red and blue jumper.



“And Corey Maynard, who has one played the one game, he’ll play his first game at the MCG in front of our supporters, so they’re exciting new faces for our club and we’re looking forward to seeing them in action.”



Goodwin said he couldn’t wait for the season to get underway.



“Sunday is going to be huge. There will be 65,000 in front of our home supporters and the MCC. I think the MCG will be rocking. They’re (Geelong) a quality opposition and we know how dynamic they are through the midfield, but our players are well prepared and they’ve got a lot of belief … and they’re looking forward to hitting the ground running on Sunday,” he said.



The Cats have not named superstar Patrick Dangerfield (hamstring), but returning Geelong great Gary Ablett will play after overcoming a recent hamstring injury.



Reigning best and fairest winner, Clayton Oliver, who signed a new contract on Thursday, will play after suffering a bruised knee during the recent JLT Community Series.



Nathan Jones (back), Jordan Lewis (calf), Alex Neal-Bullen (quadriceps) and James Harmes (concussion) have all overcome recent setbacks and have been selected.



Four players from Melbourne’s most recent match for premiership points – its round 23 loss to Collingwood last year – are missing from its season-opener. They are Tom McDonald (foot), Jack Watts (now at Port Adelaide), Brayshaw and Tyson, who are both emergencies.



The four players coming into the 22 are Lever, Fritsch, Wagner and Maynard.



Maynard will play his second AFL match, after he made his debut in Canberra against GWS Giants in round 20 last year. Wagner, who had an injury-interrupted second season in 2017, will play his 24th AFL game and first since round 22 last year.



Goodwin confirmed in the lead-up to the match that McDonald and co-captain Jack Viney will miss the next six to eight weeks with their respective foot injuries. Aaron vandenBerg (ankle) and Pat McKenna (hamstring) remain sidelined indefinitely.



Round one

Sunday, March 25

Melbourne v Geelong Cats, MCG

Home, 3.20pm



Melbourne

B: Michael Hibberd, Jake Lever, Neville Jetta

HB: Jayden Hunt, Oscar McDonald, Nathan Jones

C: Bernie Vince, Jordan Lewis, Christian Salem

HF: Christian Petracca, Cam Pedersen, James Harmes

F: Bayley Fritsch, Jesse Hogan, Jeff Garlett

Foll: Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Alex Neal-Bullen

I/C: Jake Melksham, Mitch Hannan, Corey Maynard, Josh Wagner

Emg: Angus Brayshaw, Dom Tyson, Sam Frost, Tom Bugg



