He has been named at centre half back in an extended squad.

O’Connor has not played regularly with Sunbury since being part of its 2012 premiership team.

Lions coach Ben Jordan said O’Connor was coming off an extended lay-off with shoulder trouble and had been intending to ease his way back through the new senior thirds competition.

Jordan said he had been doing a fair bit off the field around the club, as well as working with defenders.

He said O’Connor had come under consideration to play once it was confirmed East Sunbury recruit Justin Gilbertson, who was set to hold down a key defensive role, was unavailable.

Jordan said a decision on whether O’Connor played would be made match day.

Sunbury has named 27 players for its first assignment of the season at Melton Recreation Reserve.

Jordan confirmed midfielder Matthew Medcraft will play.

Medcraft is set to spend most of the season in Queensland, but is available for a handful of games with the Lions.

Despite the loss of several key players, the Sunbury retains 15 from last year’s grand final in the expanded squad.

Newcomers include Alec Goodson (Rupertswood), Ben Said (Riddell). Mitch Trimboli (Sunbury Kangaroos) and Tristan Lenaz (Wangaratta Rovers). 

Metlon South has confirmed just the one change to the combination which defeated Melton, with Matt Notman marking his return to his home club after being cleared by the Bloods.

LINE-UPS

SENIORS

Melton South

B: Michael Callus, Adam El Houli, Mitchell Banner

HB: Munir El Houli, Daniel Hillier, Anthony Hibbert

C: Brendan  Hooper, Nicholas   Kommer, Daniel  Leggett

HF: Benjamin Peters, Tayte Pears, Mark Lynch

F: Benjamin Sortino, Brendan  Fevola, Billy Sullivan

R: Craig Searle, Lachlan Watkins, Joseph Callus

Int: Shaun White, Matthew Notman, Daniel Vasjuta, Angus Storey

Emg: Matthew Collins, Jacob Thornton Gielen, William Thornton-Gielen

In: Matthew Notman

Out: William Thornton-Gielen

Sunbury

B: Trent Stead, Adam Short, Reece Wood

HB: Andrew Duhau, Allan O'Connor, Tanner Bell

C: Jack  Hannett, Gregory  Hay, Dean  Muir

HF: Benjamin Said, Patrick MacDonough, Tom Donoghue

F: Alec Goodson, Grant Valles, Timothy Hill

R: David Kovacevic, Alik Magin, Mathew Medcraft

Inter from: Mitchell Trimboli, Ben Guthrie, Jesse Flannery, Tristan Lenaz, Roger Allen, Joshua Guthrie, William Healy, Nathan Wood, Nathan Bridgland

RESERVES

Melton South

B: Jonathon  Bell , Jai Carlin, Adam Toll

HB: Matthew Collins, Bradley Cottam, William Dao

C: Heath  Fleetwood, Marc  Dransman, Brendan  Binek

HF: Jeremy Krojs, Jordan Madafferi, Jayden Vincent

F: Jack Morrissey, Sean Humphries, Cody Ogston

R: Dean Van Heemst, Ben Notman, Jacob Thornton Gielen

Int: Jack Mepstead, William Thornton-Gielen, Jake Charge, Michael Scicchitano

Emg: Thurston Darcy, Aaron Xuereb, Leigh Notman

Sunbury

B: Mitchell Pearce, Bradley Mundy, Paul Barry

HB: Adam Prescott, Joshua Muir, Dwain Sanderson

C: Ben  Riley, Joshua  Hamilton, Ben  Ferrari

HF: Jake Horwood, Aaron Lucchesi, Ryan Ritchie

F: Blake Robinson, James Sheahan, Cameron Burrows

R: Daniel Nutt, Cameron Casson, Anthony Sammut

Inter: Jake Johnson, Michael  Powell , Christopher Smith, Bailey Tatnell, Rick Turner, Aydan Faulds, James Rizk, Jack Williams

UNDER-18.5

Melton South

B: Yasin Ozagi, Bailey Parsons, David Callus

HB: Patrick Unsworth, Anthony Curtis, Jesse Geddes

C: Lachlan  Parsons, Connor  Charge, Lochlan  Ratkowski

HF: Nathan Petrovski, Dylan Clarke, David Curtis

F: Jayden  Smoors, Aaron Clarke, Nathan  Gemmell

R: Cooper Richardson, Brody Sullivan, Jack Watkins

Int: Anthony Revell, Caleb Nicol, Damon Mariluch, Jackson Burge

Sunbury

B: James Pollard-Wright, Jack Dillon, Jordan Stubbs

HB: Junior  Mabia, Joel Muir, Dylan Bygate

C: Riley  Eales, Michael  Edwards, Dylan  Caruana

HF: Jordan Taylor, Liam Muir, Lukas Millett

F: Luke Healy, Jacob Bygate, Dillon Mundy

R: Sergio Yeng-Tung , Pucho Paye, Isaac Smithwick

Inter: Dylan Landt, Benjamim Bould, Cooper Lamb, Mathew Eldridge, Luke Goater, Joshua Sorraghan