Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has flagged the likely replacement for injured defender Steven May ahead of his side's season-defining clash with Port Adelaide, while an untried tall forward could be handed a debut before the season concludes.
May will likely miss multiple games after suffering fractured ribs for the second time this season, having sustained another blow to his midriff in last Friday's loss to the Western Bulldogs.
His absence will open a spot for one of Goodwin's fringe backmen, with experienced stopper Adam Tomlinson the likely replacement for the premiership defender.
With duo Dan Turner and Harrison Petty required to continue to develop as forwards for Melbourne, Tomlinson is the standout option for Goodwin to consider at selection for Round 22.
The Demons coach said May will look to return to training after a week of recovery at least, with Tomlinson's VFL form anticipated to be rewarded.
"He's going well, he's recovering well at home," Goodwin said of May on Wednesday.
"15 weeks apart from when he last broke his ribs, to have the same ribs broken again is very uncommon.
"He'll be back in and around the club (soon), we're hoping he only misses a couple of weeks. We'll continue to assess him and see how he's tracking.
"We think we've got some experienced defenders to come in. Adam Tomlinson has been in great form in the VFL for a number of weeks and certainly has been vying for a spot.
"We've certainly got some options in the back half of the ground. It's going to be important, Port are playing some great footy in the front half of the ground. Ratugolea and Dixon are having a big impact on games, so a couple key defenders have some pretty big jobs this week."
At the other end of the field, an area Goodwin has been forced to shift multiple magnets around to find the right forward mix, another new face could be added to the attacking 50 in the form of former first-round draft addition Matthew Jefferson.
The Oakleigh Chargers product has booted 26 goals in his past 12 games for the Casey Demons to strengthen his case for an AFL debut, with Goodwin expressing his delight with the second-year key forward.
"He's certainly putting his name in the selection mix, he's getting closer and closer all the time," the Demons coach said.
"We're rapt with 'Jeffo'. He's really developing his key forward craft at VFL level to a high level, he's performed really strongly. Whether that's a game this week or in the coming weeks... we'll wait and see.
"We're just rapt he's been able to develop the way he has. It's a really tough time as a developing key forward to get drafted and how long it can take. His last 8-10 weeks have been fantastic in the way he's developed his game."
Despite Jefferson's case for a call-up and the need for height in the backline, Goodwin won't be moving Petty to defence as he looks to rely on experience to lead his front third.
Accompanied my emerging talls Jacob van Rooyen and Turner, Petty provides some leadership in attack but is still raw as a forward option.
Goodwin said the South Australian will remain a piece of his forward line going forward as the Demons look to find some consistency at selection.
"We still see Harrison as a forward," he said.
"On our current list with where it sits and what we've got available to us and where we want to go moving forward... we need experience. We need some guys who have played the game for a period of time to support some of the younger players.
"For the time being, Harrison will be seen as a forward here."
Melbourne could look to the key forward market this off-season to aid their attacking woes, with West Coast's Jake Waterman already linked to the Demons this year despite being contracted for the 2025 season.
Goodwin said the Demons won't stop looking at different levers that could aid the strength of their list, noting the club has long been planning to turn its forward pack into a formidable force.
"It's certainly an area of the ground we're continuing to look at," Goodwin added.
"We have for a number of years tried to get the personnel we need, whether that be through the draft or through trade or free agency. We'll leave no stone unturned in looking at how we get our list better.
"Jacob van Rooyen is really coming along really fast now, we've got Matt Jefferson that's developing really strongly at VFL level, Dan Turner has come in this year and is starting to have an impact for us.
"We'll look at all avenues as to how we can get better in that space, but we feel like we've put a lot of time into that in the last couple of years. In the end, we'll get the rewards of that."
Melbourne face Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night, with a loss to the Demons likely spelling an end to their finals hopes.
