Melbourne veteran Jack Viney will miss the start of the home and away season, leaving the Demons with a new-look midfield for the start of the Steven King era.
The premiership midfielder’s absence demonstrates how quickly things have changed at the Demons since Brad Green, club president at that time, told members at the 2024 awards night the club was not trading star midfielder Clayton Oliver to Geelong.
The Demons will be without Jack Viney’s ball winning abilities in round oneCredit: Getty Images
“I know, come round one next year [2025], when I see the first ball bounced and our midfield of Gawn, Viney, Oliver and Petracca … that you Melbourne faithful will be there in full force,” Green said at the time.
Of that fab four, the Demons will now only have Gawn, who is playing for Victoria in the State of Origin match against WA on Saturday night, in the centre square when they take on the Saints at the MCG in round one on March 15.
Norm Smith medallist Christian Petracca will restart his career for Gold Coast and four-time best and fairest winner Oliver for the Giants in opening round, while Viney will be on the sidelines.
Key defender Steven May’s future is under a cloud because of personal issues that saw him absent from training last week, while Jai Culley fractured his arm on Friday after an impressive pre-season on the wing.
In round one, Max Gawn will be the last man standing of the star-studded midfield that took Melbourne to the 2021 premiership. Credit: The Age
They also have a new club president in Steven Smith, new CEO Paul Guerra and King as their new coach. Green remains on the club board.
Melbourne remain confident Viney will play a significant amount of football this season despite enduring an interrupted pre-season due to an Achilles tendon injury that is not responding to treatment as well as they hoped.
A club source with direct knowledge of the matter said the main stumbling block, however, for Viney in the coming weeks would be his capacity to build his fitness to the level required to perform, given his preparation is also being compromised by back soreness.
Viney was an observer at group training last week, and did not take part in any running or skill work on the sidelines.
He had trained earlier in the morning so, as a senior player, he could help out the coaches during the session.
With Petracca and Oliver gone, Viney injured and Jake Bowey nursing a foot injury, the Demons will be without four players who finished top 10 in their best and fairest award last year.
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