IN ITS quest to avenge last season’s Grand Final heartbreak, Melbourne has made just a handful of changes to its side ahead of the rematch against Adelaide on Friday night.
Tahlia Gillard missed the Grand Final but will face the Crows in round one of season seven, with former Cat Jordy Ivey set to debut for her new club alongside fellow new Dees Maeve Chaplin and Samantha Johnson.
Four Grand Final Demons won’t play in the rematch, with Gab Colvin (knee), Sinead Goldrick (knee) and Eliza McNamara (back) all missing due to injury, while Shelley Scott moved to Geelong during the off-season.
New Dee Charlotte Wilson has been named as an emergency.
Montana McKinnon may have missed the Grand Final due to suspension, but she’ll be back for the rematch to help the Crows try to get the job done once again.
Lisa Whiteley is another Crow who missed the Grand Final but will play in the rematch, while former Eagle Niamh Kelly will play her first game in Adelaide colours.
Several premiership Crows left Adelaide during the off-season, but the side still boasts plenty of firepower, with star midfielders Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard both named as well as key-forward duo Ashleigh Woodland and Danielle Ponter.
Forward Ailish Considine has not been named, while Madison Newman and Abbie Ballard both come into the side.
Friday, August 26
Adelaide v Melbourne at Glenelg Oval, 7.10pm ACST
ADELAIDE
B: L.Whiteley 22, M.Rajcic 32
HB: C.Biddell 12, S.Allan 39, N.Allen 8
C: E.Jones 2, E.Marinoff 10, N.Kelly 23
HF: T.Charlton 25, C.Randall (c) 26, S.Thompson 14
F: D.Ponter 15, A.Woodland 24
Foll: C.Gould 1, A.Hatchard 33, H.Button 6
I/C: M.Newman 17, M.McKinnon 21, R.Martin 5, H.Munyard 20, A.Ballard 27
Emerg: A.Ward 3, Z.Prowse 4, B.Tonon 28
MELBOURNE
B: L.Birch 9, T.Gillard 17
HB: S.Lampard 8, M.Gay 3, S.Heath 30
C: L.Mithen 14, T.Hanks 5, K.Paxman 4
HF: K.Hore 10, C.Sherriff 18, T.Harris 7
F: D.Pearce (c) 6, A.Bannan 16
Foll: L.Pearce 15, E.West 11, O.Purcell 2
I/C: M.Chaplin 13, S.Johnson 25, E.Zanker 29, M.Fitzsimon 24, J.Ivey 19
Emerg: B.Mackin 31, G.Campbell 1, C.Wilson 20
