Melbourne premiership ahead Tom McDonald is locked in to play his first recreation since May in a serious increase for the Demons forward of their qualifying last blockbuster towards Collingwood.
The 30-year-old has been restricted to 6 video games this season after battling with an ankle harm.
But McDonald, who missed Melbourne’s straight-sets exit from the finals final yr, has bought himself match for Thursday evening’s conflict with the Magpies in entrance of greater than 90,000 followers on the MCG.
“He’s got his timing right, Tommy, hasn’t he,” Demons coach Simon Goodwin mentioned on Wednesday.
“He’s played the last three games really well at VFL; now he’s kicking goals, he’s moving better, he’s got his body 100 per cent fit and healthy.
“He’s a extremely vital participant for us. He’s a frontrunner and he is confirmed that he can play properly in finals footy.”
McDonald booted 33 goals during Melbourne’s 2021 premiership campaign, combining well with lethal left-footer Bayley Fristch.
The Demons will be without Jake Melksham, who performed admirably in the back-half of this season before rupturing his ACL in the final round clash with Sydney.
That win at the SCG was Fritsch’s first appearance in two months due to being sidelined with a foot injury.
Fritsch starred with five goals in his return against the Swans but did send a scare through the Melbourne camp when he hobbled off with a sore foot.
“He’s skilled totally the final week so he is able to go,” Goodwin mentioned.
“He did a reasonably large operating session on Saturday … there is no questions on Bayley, he is a category participant.”
Up to 29 players took part in Melbourne’s training run at Gosch’s Paddock in front of a large contingent of Demons supporters.
Wet and cold weather is expected for the 1 v 4 battle, but Collingwood have already declared they intend to play both of their ruckmen, Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox.
Melbourne will almost certainly go with captain Max Gawn as their sole ruckman and again leave Brodie Grundy on the sidelines.
Grundy skilled with the primary group on Wednesday, however so did fringe gamers like Adam Tomlinson and Josh Schache.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
