MELBOURNEfc has selected a host of youngsters in their 28 man squad to play Adelaide in the opening round of the NAB Regional Challenge.
2006 draftees - Ricky Petterd (Pick 30) and Colin Garland (Pick 46) - have both been selected to make their debuts, along with 2005 draftee Heath Neville.
Mid-fielder Brent Moloney will make a long-awaited return to football after his 2006 season was decimated by injury. Other players who will wear the red and blue colours for the first time in 2007 include Aaron Davey and Matthew Whelan, who have both recovered from slight ankle injuries, and Jeff White, who was rested last week.
Travis Johnstone (Foot) and Brock McLean (Thigh) were left out of the side and are still 1 – 2 weeks away from their return from injury. Colin Sylvia (Groin), Clint Bartram (Ankle) and Jace Bode (Back) are on a lengthy return schedule and will aim to be fully fit for Round One.
Melbourne: Simon Buckley, Daniel Bell, Nathan Jones, Brent Moloney, James McDonald, Clint Bizzell, Heath Neville, Ben Holland, Matthew Bate, Jared Rivers, Brad Miller, Simon Godfrey, James Frawley, Cameron Bruce, Jeff White, Ryan Ferguson, Paul Johnson, Aaron Davey, Matthew Warnock, Adem Yze, Daniel Hughes, Lynden Dunn, Ricky Petterd, Mark Jamar, Chris Johnson, Brad Green, Colin Garland, Matthew Whelan.
Adelaide: Kris Massie, Kurt Tippett, Scott Thompson, Jonathon Griffin, Nathan van Berlo, Nathan Bassett, Matthew Bode, Michael Doughty, Robert Shirley, Ben Hudson, David Mackay, Jason Torney, Scott Welsh, Darren Pfeiffer, Chris Knights, Andrew McLeod, Brett Burton, Ben Rutten, Richard Douglas, Scott Stevens, Bernie Vince, James Sellar, Brent Reilly, Simon Goodwin, Martin Mattner, Rhys Archard, Andrew McIntyre, Nathan Bock.
