Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin is relishing a Demons midfield reunion as the club’s campaign to play AFL finals enters the final furlong.
Nathan Jones and Bernie Vince are confirmed starters for Saturday’s round 20 match against GWS Giants in Canberra.
In a surprise move, they’ll be joined by debutant ex-basketballer Corey Maynard.
Goodwin didn’t make clear whether Sam Weidemann or Cam Pedersen will replace injured forward Jesse Hogan but with just four home-and-away fixtures remaining, he’s delighted to have his midfield warriors back.
“Nathan and Bernie are a couple of experienced players ready to go,” he said.
“He was pretty close last week Nate. It was hard to hold him back.
“We’re looking forward to our midfield getting back together. We’ve probably lacked a bit of continuity in that area of the ground for a number of weeks.
“We need to start connecting with Max in the ruck and start being proactive with the ball.”
Jones returns from six weeks out with a quad complaint while Vince has completed a two-week striking suspension.
The ex-Crow was chastised for elbowing Adelaide favourite Eddie Betts in the face but Goodwin said he was now on the straight and narrow.
“He’s served his time,” he said.
“He’s continually learning about what’s right and wrong and is now getting on with the job of playing some good footy.”
Describing the mood at the club after their shock four-point loss to North Melbourne as “really positive”, Goodwin said Maynard’s looming debut boosted players further.
Maynard, 25, played for Cairns Taipans and Townsville Crocodiles in the NBL before deciding to follow younger brother Brayden – a Collingwood defender – into the AFL.
“He’s got some great attributes, a mature body and doing some really exciting things at VFL level,” Goodwin said of Maynard.
“He’s a really contested player around stoppages and the midfield.
“It’s exciting for the footy club at this stage of the year to have a debutant who’s worked his way into the team.”
Goodwin said the club still hoped to see Hogan play again in 2017 despite breaking his collarbone in Hobart.
“He’s back in the gym doing some lower leg weights and getting himself moving again,” he said.
“There’s no actual plan for when he’ll be back but we’re really hopeful he’ll be back.”
The Demons are hopeful of breaking an 11-year finals drought this season but could find themselves outside the eight without a win over the third-placed Giants.