Demons weighing up Petty substitute choices in assault

Melbourne are dealing with a tricky choice name between Ben Brown and Tom McDonald because the substitute for Harrison Petty within the AFL top-four conflict with Port Adelaide.

Petty, a premiership-winning tall defender, has been dominated out for at the least a month with a foot harm after impressing in his new position in assault this season.

He kicked two objectives in Saturday’s huge win over Hawthorn earlier than being substituted out at half-time.

The harm setback opens the door for normal forwards Brown and McDonald, who’ve performed simply three and 4 senior video games respectively this season.

Brown kicked 9 objectives within the opening three weeks earlier than he was briefly sidelined by a again harm and misplaced his spot within the facet.

McDonald has not performed since a goalless, six-disposal effort within the round-five loss to Essendon, which adopted a four-goal haul in opposition to West Coast every week earlier.

“A type of guys will in all probability get their likelihood this week,” Demons coach Simon Goodwin instructed Fox Footy.

“A part of this season is about exploring.

“We need to proceed to be a workforce that will get higher by the 12 months and considered one of our explorations was round Harrison and his potential to play ahead.

“We have preferred what we have seen to date, so we’d’ve preferred to have seen {that a} bit extra, however we get a have a look at a distinct combine this week.”

Younger ahead Jacob van Rooyen is more likely to maintain his spot in Melbourne’s facet, with ruck duo Max Gawn and Brodie Grundy additionally presenting marking targets in assault.

Whereas Petty has been sidelined, the Demons breathed an enormous sigh of aid when scans cleared star midfielder Christian Petracca of significant ankle harm after the win over Hawthorn.

“You get involved when considered one of your higher gamers is down however he is nice,” Goodwin mentioned.

“He ran in the present day, he’ll absolutely prepare (on Tuesday) and he’ll be absolutely obtainable.”

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