MELBOURNE'S abundance of experience in defence could allow the Demons to blood a young player to fill the role of injured defender Jake Lever in Monday's clash with Collingwood at the MCG, co-captain Nathan Jones says.
A number of players are in contention to fill Lever's role across half-back, with Sam Frost, Josh Wagner, Joel Smith and Jayden Hunt all pushing their cases to play against the Magpies on Queen's Birthday.
Having veterans Jordan Lewis and Bernie Vince alongside Michael Hibberd and Neville Jetta in the backline means there is support for an inexperienced player to come in and play immediately, Jones says.
"There's probably four or five players who could fill his spot. Finding the right mix is the challenge for the coaching group in particular, over the next how many weeks," Jones said.
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"The luxury that we've got at the moment is that our backline is reasonably experienced … so hopefully we can bring in a Joel Smith/Josh Wagner type potentially.
"They (Lewis et al) can help mould him into the role that we want him to fill on ground, but in saying that we've got other guys in form like Sam Frost and Cam Pedersen who could come in and we could juggle the team around a little bit.
"That's something the coaches will work on the next few days in match committee and we'll see how it shapes up on Monday."
Smith, an athletic defender in his second year in the AFL, is yet to play a senior match this season. The 22-year-old played three games in his debut year in 2017 that was largely ruined by shoulder and leg injuries.
Internally, the Demons rated Wagner as the club's best defender over the first month of this season, although he has not played since being dropped after the club's round five loss to Richmond.
Frost has played two matches this year but none since losing his place in the side after round four, while Hunt has managed just five games.
Jones said Hunt was aware of the things he needed to work on to earn a recall to the senior side.
"When we've won six in a row, I think it makes it tough for guys to squeeze their way back in," Jones said.
"They've really got to bang down the door in the VFL. I think 'Hunty' is really aware of what we expect from him … it's that balance of offence and defence.
"He's one of those names who could fill Jake's role, so I think that's the luxury for us at the moment that we've got guys in form, and it could potentially be five guys (who could come in and play)."
As has become custom, the Melbourne-Collingwood clash will also seek to aid Neale Daniher's fight against Motor Neurone Disease, with all 18 AFLcoaches to plunge into an icy pool prior to the game.
Jones has backed coach Simon Goodwin to wear Speedos as part of his outfit for the event.
"We were winding him up the other day. He's pretty happy with his rig so expect that to be out, but it's obviously a terrific cause.
"The fact that all the coaches got behind it … I was rapt when that got announced and that should make for a spectacular day."
