Ahead of this Saturday’s high-stakes AFL clash against the Western Bulldogs, the Melbourne Demons are grappling with a tough selection call: whether to bring star vice-captain Jack Viney straight back into the senior side after his long-awaited return to match play.
Viney, a hard-tackling midfielder who has been sidelined for the entire season to date by a frustrating string of Achilles and back injuries, stepped out for his first competitive match of 2024 last weekend with Melbourne’s Victorian Football League (VFL) affiliate Casey Demons. The comeback outing went off without a hitch: Viney notched 20 disposals, 10 clearances, and a goal, proving his fitness after months of rehabilitation work.
Interim Demons coach Steven King confirmed that the coaching staff is feeling the pull to fast-track Viney’s return for this weekend’s critical fixture, but he stressed that the club’s first priority is ensuring the veteran is fully prepared to handle the intensity of senior AFL football.
“First and foremost, it’s just great to see him back out on the park after everything he’s been through this year,” King told reporters. “We’ve got a lot of factors to weigh up here, starting with how he pulled up from the VFL match, and then team balance, too. Let’s be honest, we’ve hit good form lately, winning six of our last seven outings, so we don’t want to disrupt the chemistry we’ve built.”
King added that the selection call balances the needs of the team and the long-term interests of Viney himself, noting that having the vice-captain available for selection is ultimately a huge boost for the club. “When you get a player of Jack’s caliber available, it’s only a good thing. I just want to make the right call for the team, the club, and most of all for Jack. We need to be sure he’s really ready to come back in. Is that this week? We’ll just have to wait and see,” he said.
The outcome of Saturday’s match will have a major impact on Melbourne’s final ladder position heading into the AFL finals series. A win could see the Demons climb as high as fourth spot on the ladder, securing a valuable double chance, while a loss could drop them as low as the wildcard round, forcing them into an immediate knockout fixture.
One big advantage Melbourne holds heading into the clash is in the ruck division: star ruckman Max Gawn will take on a Bulldogs side missing key big man Tim English. King seized the opportunity to sing Gawn’s praises, as the 34-year-old pushes for a historic ninth selection to the All Australian team, and his first as captain of the side.
“It’s amazing what Max has done for our club and what he’s achieved across his whole career,” King said. “If he gets the nod as a nine-time All Australian and All Australian captain, it’s incredibly well-deserved. He’s been our club captain for years now, and he’s already broken the club record for most wins as captain. To be doing what he’s doing at 34, carrying our team to where we are on the ladder right now, is extraordinary. I’m biased, of course, but I can’t think of anyone more worthy of the honor. It’s a privilege to coach him.”