Melbourne Demons to go without Ben Brown for Fremantle Dockers clash but Jake Lever set to be available

Fremantle have received a timely boost ahead of their monster clash with Melbourne at Optus Stadium on Friday night, but it’s not all good news on the selection front as they scrap to keep their top-four hopes alive.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin has ruled key forward Ben Brown out of the prime-time blockbuster, but prolific intercept defender Jake Lever is likely to play.

Goodwin is confident Ben Brown will be purring in time for the AFL finals despite the key forward’s ongoing knee problems.

Brown missed last week’s 10-point loss to the Western Bulldogs due to knee soreness and will now miss at least one more week.

The 29-year-old has battled knee issues in recent years and it’s a problem he’ll have to manage for the rest of his career.

But Goodwin feels a two-week break will leave Brown fit and ready to go for the rest of the season, starting with next week’s match against Collingwood at the MCG.

“We’re really confident we’re on top of it,” Goodwin said.

“It’s an ongoing thing he’s going to have for the rest of his career. It’s something we’ve had to manage for a long period of time already with Ben.

“It was just getting a little bit sore, a little bit more wear and tear.

“So we wanted to make sure we give it some time off, set him up the right way, get some training to him, and bring him back and get his footy back to where we know he can play.

“We’re really confident he’ll be back next week.”

But Lever and grand final substitute James Jordon have been cleared to play despite suffering a knee scare against the Bulldogs.

“Jake Lever will be fine to go. He’ll train fully today and he will play,” Goodwin said.

“(Jordon) had a little medial ligament (injury). He’ll train fully today and he’ll be right to go.

“It was a pretty nasty little incident, but we’re fortunate he got through it ok.”

Fremantle will be without skipper Nat Fyfe (hamstring), but forward Rory Lobb is expected to return from a shoulder injury.

The second-placed Demons (13-5) have lost five of their past eight matches, and a defeat to Fremantle would leave their top-four hopes in jeopardy.

Goodwin is urging his players to regain their ruthlessness in defence after giving up 110 points to the Bulldogs last week.