Melbourne champion Garry Lyon doesn’t believe Ben Brown’s axing ahead of Saturday’s meeting with the Crows was necessarily on the basis of form.
Brown has played three games and kicked five goals since his debut for the Demons in Round 7, but he has cleared the runway for rival key forward Sam Weideman to partner Tom McDonald.
“I’m only a little bit (surprised) because he’s been in for three weeks and did kick goals,” Lyon explained on SEN Breakfast.
“Now they’re going to give Weideman a chance to see if he can kick three or four goals.”
Melbourne defender comments on Ben Brown's omission
Lyon suggested Simon Goodwin will be flexible with his talls, mixing and matching to find the best combinations for different situations.
He added: “I honestly think it’s just going to be all things considered, everyone’s fit and well, who is in the best form?
“I don’t know what the best look for that group is at Round 9, but they’ll be hoping between now and finals that they’re going to sort that out.
“Part of that process is having a look at different blokes in there.”
The former Melbourne captain says the club aren’t alarmed by the former Roo’s slow start to life in red and blue.
“I’ve spoken to them about this, they love what he’s bringing,” Lyon reassured fans.
“They say he’s got an unbelievably high footy IQ, he understands exactly what they’re trying to do, (and) he’s got a big motor to get him up the ground and back.”
Melbourne swapped second and fourth rounders with North Melbourne to get Brown to the club in the off-season, hoping to add shape to the forward line.
The Dees dangled McDonald in front of rival clubs after the 28-year-old struggled to make an impact in 2020, while a return to defence was also mooted.
Nine rounds into the season however, McDonald has cemented his place with 16 goals, while Luke Jackson has ably supported Max Gawn in the ruck.
“Ben Brown would be disappointed, but that’s what a good side does. There are competitive tensions for positions along the way,” Lyon concluded.
Former captain Nathan Jones has also been squeezed out of the side, but Lyon explained the veteran’s presence will bolster the club’s premiership contention.
“When you have a player like that who is so well-respected… and we know the backstory, being at the club when they were appalling, do you know what that does?” Lyon asked.
“It makes the blokes in the team treasure their spot even more. They look back and go ‘what’s the value of being in this side? The value is keeping him out’.
“You become much more mindful of where you’re at.
“I don’t know if he’ll get back in and whether he’s in the best 22, but what he’ll do is keep everyone as honest as they have ever been.”
Melbourne will strive to extend their unbeaten start into double digits when they face the Crows at Adelaide Oval in the twilight game on Saturday.