MELBOURNE midfielder Jack Viney has been named to make a shock return in Monday's Queen's Birthday clash against Collingwood just two weeks after suffering a fractured knuckle.
Viney, who had been expected to miss up to four matches, returns after juast one game on the sidelines and is expected to play in a protective glove on his injured left hand.
The 22-year-old completed a full training session on Saturday morning to push his claims, moving between the main group and a separate rehab group at Gosch's Paddock.
Coach Paul Roos and assistant Brendon McCartney held lengthy talks with the midfielder towards the end of the one-hour session.
He completed the warm-up with the main group before moving into a separate group to complete run-throughs with Heritier Lumumba (concussion), Tom McDonald and Dom Tyson.
He continued away from the main group to test his marking, which Roos said his selection would hinge on.
The hard-nut midfielder marked short kicks but tended to protect his left hand.
He then completed a tackling drill with captain Nathan Jones and young midfielder Clayton Oliver, and moved on to stoppage work with the main midfield group.
The young star took part in match simulation work but was not heavily involved.
The Demons trimmed Jack Grimes, Viv Michie and James Harmes from their seven-man bench.
The Pies dropped Alan Toovey and Matthew Goodyear, along with the already omitted Travis Cloke and Adam Oxley.
Marley Williams returns from injury, while big men Jonathon Marsh and Jarrod Witts are also included alongside debutant Tom Phillips.
MELBOURNE
In: J.Viney, B.Kennedy
Out: J.Garlett, J.Harmes
COLLINGWOOD
In: J.Witts, M.Williams, J.Marsh, T.Phillips
Out: T.Cloke, A.Oxley, A.Toovey, M.Goodyear
New: Tom Phillips (Oakleigh U18)
