MELBOURNE defender Steven May is out of the realestate.com.au AFLX tournament, two days after being selected in Eddie Betts' all-indigenous Deadly team.
The former Gold Coast co-captain, the Demons' marquee recruit in last year's NAB AFL Trade Period, has suffered a minor hamstring injury.
St Kilda star Jade Gresham is May's replacement in Betts' 14-strong squad for the event at Marvel Stadium on Friday, February 22.
AFLX RULES Get ready for 20-point supergoals
Hamstring issues sidelined May in 2013, 2014 and 2017 (twice), on top of ankle and groin setbacks in his AFL career to date.
Melbourne will be without fellow key backman Jake Lever (knee) for much of the season, so will hope May is fit and firing for its season-opener against Port Adelaide at the MCG on March 23.
WHO HAS THE BEST AFLX TEAM? Callum Twomey makes the call
Oscar McDonald and Sam Frost are among the Dees' other tall defensive options if May's hamstring problem lingers.
However, Melbourne expects May to be ready for the club’s second JLT Community Series match against Brisbane at Casey Fields on March 9.
He is likely to be restricted at training for the next three to four weeks.
Team Deadly: Eddie Betts (captain), Shaun Burgoyne (vice-captain), Bradley Hill, Jarrod Harbrow, Tim Kelly, Chad Wingard, Travis Varcoe, Lewis Jetta, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Joel Hamling, Willie Rioli, Sam Powell-Pepper, Cameron Ellis-Yolmen and Jade Gresham.
The AFLX tournament kicks off on Friday February 22 at Marvel Stadium .
Information and ticket sales via X.afl
CLUB | PLAYERS REPRESENTED | |||
Adelaide | Eddie Betts | Rory Sloane | Rory Laird | Cameron Ellis-Yolmen |
Brisbane | Luke Hodge | Dayne Zorko | Daniel Rich | |
Carlton | Patrick Cripps | Zac Fisher | ||
Collingwood | Scott Pendlebury | Steele Sidebottom | Travis Varcoe | Jaidyn Stephenson |
Essendon | Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti | Andrew McGrath | Dylan Shiel | Michael Hurley |
Fremantle | Nat Fyfe | Bradley Hill | Joel Hamling | |
Geelong | Patrick Dangerfield | Tom Hawkins | Tim Kelly | Mark Blicavs |
Gold Coast | Jarrod Harbrow | |||
Greater Western Sydney | Lachie Whitfield | Jeremy Cameron | Phil Davis | Stephen Coniglio |
Hawthorn | Shaun Burgoyne | Chad Wingard | Isaac Smith | Luke Breust |
Melbourne | Steven May | Tom McDonald | ||
North Melbourne | Shaun Higgins | Robbie Tarrant | ||
Port Adelaide | Robbie Gray | Travis Boak | Sam Powell-Pepper | |
Richmond | Jack Riewoldt | Alex Rance | Jack Higgins | |
St Kilda | Jack Billings | Tim Membrey | Jack Steele | |
Sydney | Isaac Heeney | Luke Parker | Aliir Aliir | Josh Kennedy |
West Coast | Andrew Gaff | Lewis Jetta | Willie Rioli | |
Western Bulldogs | Marcus Bontempelli | Easton Wood | Lachie Hunter |