Speaking on Best 22 today, Gary O’Donnell said he looking forward to Andrew Welsh’s return to senior football tomorrow night saying he might spend time on dangerous Demon Colin Sylvia.
Veteran Dustin Fletcher, who has spent almost two months nursing a leg injury, and Jason Winderlich will also return to the side.
“There are great changes this week,” O’Donnell said.
""Dustin Fletcher is coming in after having seven weeks on the sidelines, Andrew Welsh is back after breaking his ankle seventeen weeks ago in an intra-club game and has made a really amazing recovery and Jason Winderlich is back after missing one week with a foot.
“Unfortunately out goes Jay Neagle, Bachar Houli - who is ill - and David Zaharakis after ten games with the seniors, although Zaharakis will probably be considered for the Carlton game next week.
“Neagle was good against Geelong, but has been up and down. We still hold great hopes for him to join Gumbleton being someone who takes our forward line into the future.
“Fletcher frees up Hooker to go and be used in other spots. Fletch, McPhee and Pears will probably be the key backs. Fletch can go long and kick over the zone – and Melbourne tends to zone.""
O'Donnell admitted there was a slight risk having three players return to a side that already has an underdone Kyle Reimers and Brent Prismall
“A few players may not be playing to their full potential at the moment, but if we start the game on our terms we can carry that sort of thing. We just have to get games into them but there is no doubt we’ll be a much better team in a month or so though,” he said
Despite Melbourne’s win/loss record this season, O’Donnell believes they will be a competitive side and there will be a few players the coaching staff will closely monitor.
“We’ll be keeping an eye on Brock McLean, Colin Sylvia and other bigger body players, especially in the midfield. Andrew Welsh will probably get a run against one of these guys – they’re similar types to him,"" he said.
""It’s his first game back, so we won’t expect a great deal from him, but after playing a few games with Bendigo and doing ok, so we’re happy that he’s back in the side. He provides a lot of spirit for the team.
“Sylvia has been in great nick for Melbourne, thirty touches and three goals in a losing side against Collingwood in the last round showed promise. They’ll be going hard after their loss; our first quarter is going to be very important. Aaron Davey for Melbourne also has pace and we’ll need to watch out for him as well.”
