Jack Viney expected to be ready for Round 1, Jake Lever opens up on his exit from Adelaide

FEAR not Melbourne fans, Jack Viney is expected to be ready for the start of the 2018 season. Meanwhile, Jake Lever has opened up on his feud with Taylor Walker.

Jake Lever in action at Melbourne training. Picture: Getty Images

MELBOURNE football executive Todd Viney says his injured son Jack Viney is expected to be ready for Round 1 as Jake Lever stepped out with his new teammates on day one of pre-season training.

Viney, the club’s co-captain, has been in a moon boot for much of the off-season after missing the last two games of 2017, and was not on the track at Gosch’s Paddock.

Viney Snr told the Herald Sun the club was taking every precaution with Jack, and barring a setback, he would be right to play against Geelong in Round 1.

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“I think he’s progressing well, they’ve just taken it cautiously with him just to give him plenty of time to get his flexibility back in his ankle after being in the moon boot for a while,” the Demons’ player personnel manager said.

“He’s going to be fine, he’s just in cotton wool at the moment, slow and steady.”

Jack Viney was a standout for the Demons last year. Picture: AAP Images

Co-captain Nathan Jones was restricted to running laps outside the main group as all eyes were on Lever.

The ex-Crows defender will get his first chance to take on his former club in Alice Springs in Round 10, but knows he’s in for a baptism of fire in Round 19 when the Demons head to Adelaide Oval.

“I expect a few boos, but I guess it’s about embracing it,” Lever said after training with the rehab group.

“The crowd and players are obviously going to get right into me, but I think I’m the type of person that doesn’t mind having a laugh out on the field.

“I’m sure (Adelaide captain Taylor) Tex Walker, he’ll probably try and whack me around the ear. In the end, I’m mates with a lot of these guys, so if I wasn’t going to get any stick, I’d be pretty disappointed.”

Lever was publicly berated by Walker over his decision to leave for Melbourne, but said the situation had been blown out of proportion.

“I didn’t really have a problem with him, I’m fine with Tex,” Lever said.

Jake Lever at his first Melbourne training session. Picture: Michael Klein

“He was disappointed as he should be — he’s the captain ... and he probably doesn’t want people leaving his football club.

“He text me congratulations after my engagement (to Jessica Hansen) and I text him back.

“(If) me and Tex catch up for a beer, maybe in a couple of years, I’m sure there’s not going to be too many problems.”

Lever wore No.8 on the track yesterday as his Adelaide No.6 is owned by a svelte-looking Jordan Lewis and no decision has been made on what will be on the back of his guernsey when he runs out in Round 1.

Clayton Oliver grimaces during a running session. Picture: Michael Klein

Christian Salem, Mitch Hannan and Pat McKenna. Picture: Michael Klein

Jake Lever during training. Picture: Michael Klein