Melbourne captain Max Gawn looks ready to return from a knee injury

Melbourne was AFL premiership favourites before a horror loss last week but an injection of star power will help their cause for an Anzac Day eve clash.

Melbourne captain Max Gawn is ready to return. (Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images)

Only an unforeseen incident would stop Melbourne captain Max Gawn making a return in his team’s Anzac Day eve clash with Richmond as the Demons look to respond to a horror Gather Round defeat.

Gawn has ticked nearly every box in his recovery from a knee injury which has sidelined him since Round 2, during which time his team had big wins against Sydney and West Coast before a shock loss to Essendon.

“Gawny had a really good session over the weekend,” Melbourne high performance manager Selwyn Griffith said.

“He’s integrating into full training this week and similarly to the other players, if he can get through our full training session, he will be available for selection.”

It’s a timely inclusion with the Tigers well down on big man stocks including key forward Tom Lynch, which makes the impending return of star Demon defender Jake Lever from an ankle injury.

Melbourne forward ben Brown also looks set to return with the Demons staring at a winnable month with games against North Melbourne, Gold Coast and Hawthorn to follow the Richmond game.

Ben Brown during a Melbourne training session (Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images)

Good news for Carlton’s big man stocks was offset by confirmation star defender Adam Saad will miss the next two weeks with a hamstring injury.

Ruckman Marc Pittonet was cleared of any eye damage after being subbed out of last weekend’s loss to Adelaide and will line-up against St Kilda on Sunday.

Key defender Mitch McGovern, who was a late withdrawal against the Crows with a calf issue is also a chance to play the Saints, needing only to get through training this week to take his place.

Mitch McGovern of the Blues (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

But scans have confirmed Saad, who limped off Adelaide Oval late, suffered a low-grade hamstring injury and he’ll be sidelined for a minimum two weeks at a crucial time for the Blues who face the ladder-leading Saints, West Coast, and Brisbane in the next three weeks.

The Saad blow comes with Sam Docherty also sidelined for up to six weeks with a knee injury.

But Carlton coach said his team was ready to tackle St Kilda who had surprised plenty with an unbeaten start to the season before losing to Collingwood last weekend.

“I’ve seen them in the last couple of weeks up close and they’re in good nick,” Voss said.

There’s one in really good form, so we look forward to the challenge.”

Originally published as Melbourne captain Max Gawn looks ready to return from a knee injury