Melbourne captain Brad Green was a surprising choice to be their substitute in Sunday's AFL clash against Richmond, but coach Todd Viney made the right decision.

Viney was weighing up between Green and Colin Sylvia, who ended up being best afield with five goals in the seven-point loss to the Tigers.

The Demons' caretaker coach told Green when they arrived at the MCG on Sunday that he would wear the green substitute vest.

Sylvia was in line for the role after a poor first half the week before against West Coast.

"Colin Sylvia was the one I was tossing up with at the time, re the sub, but we just needed a little bit more midfield presence," Viney said.

"Col went into the midfield and had a bit of an impact in the third quarter at centre bounces.

"Greeny missed last week with a back spasm and he's had a really interrupted preparation, so we just thought that we'd play him as a sub, we knew we'd get a quarter and a bit out of him.

"We just didn't know how he'd go after a full game, particularly at halftime after cooling down."

Viney said Green took the news well and praised him for how he performed when he came on in the third term.

Green kicked a goal as Melbourne turned the game around and hit the lead.

"He was very good, as you'd expect from the captain of the club, he understood where we were coming from," Viney said.

"His attitude to it was fantastic."

Viney also confirmed that Green would be in their starting side for next Sunday's game against Gold Coast.

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