The key position defenders will be a welcome addition to the depleted Lions backline that struggled against Fremantle in last week’s game, losing both Josh Drummond and Jared Brennan within minutes of each other during the third quarter.
Vice-Captain Merrett said Drummond will be missed by his fellow back six.
“There is nothing better than dishing Josh a handball out of the backline because you know that he is going to find a target," Merrett said.
"He takes most of our kick-ins as well and some of his kick-ins have been amazing."
"We’ve just had such bad luck with injuries this year, and to see those two guys go down with what looked like really serious injuries - it was very hard to watch.”
While the loss of Drummond and Brennan will be felt, Merrett still believes that the Lions can field a more than competitive defensive line-up to take on the 2010 premiers.
“[Drummond] is going to be a massive loss but it gives someone else an opportunity,” he said.
“You have guys like James Hawksley who will probably fill that kind of role and then there’s myself, Matt Maguire, Joel Patfull, Ash [McGrath], Jed [Adcock] and then Travis Johnstone as well, so we have got a good little squad down there.”
Merrett is expected to line up against Geelong forward James Podsiadly who, despite his relative inexperience, is currently in the top 10 goal-scorers in the AFL so far this season after playing just five senior matches.
Podsiadly, a 28 year-old mature age recruit, debuted in round three this year after dominating in the VFL in previous seasons. He had also previously spent two unsuccessful stints on Essendon and Collingwood’s rookie lists in 2000 and 2002 respectively.
“He is an experienced campaigner. He has been in three or four AFL systems and he has been playing some good footy in the VFL so he is no stranger to football,” Merrett said.
“I’ll be sure to watch his tapes. All I can do is watch the games he has actually played in the AFL."
