Jack Viney and Jesse Hogan form backbone of Melbourne’s bid to build a premiership list
TO build a premiership list you need a slice of luck, plenty of astute planning and a healthy dose of rat cunning, which Melbourne used for a 2012 draft heist.
Melbourne
Don't miss out on the headlines from Melbourne. Followed categories will be added to My News.
TO build a premiership list you need a slice of luck, plenty of astute planning and a healthy dose of rat cunning.
In the spring of 2012 Melbourne used of those commodities for a draft heist that landed them a franchise forward and a future captain.
In the space of three days their wheeling and dealing saw Jack Viney slip to pick 26, then used that windfall to secure once-in-a-decade forward Jesse Hogan.
The deal raised eyebrows after GWS and the Gold Coast conveniently overlooked junior prodigy Viney despite his wild talent.
But just over three seasons on Viney is a potential Demons captain sitting second in the Herald Sun’s Player of the Year award.
And Hogan just bagged seven effortless goals in only his 26th AFL match.
Viney could already have nine Brownlow votes, dominating in the club’s three wins with 32 touches (15 contested), 31 and a goal (15 contested) and 37 (with nine tackles, nine clearances and 23 contested touches)
His stats are incredible, averaging 29 touches (no. 1 at Melbourne), 16 contested possessions (behind only Matt Priddis and Patrick Cripps) and eight clearances (behind Cripps and Joel Selwood).
Finally his game is complete, averaging an elite 5.5 inside 50s, seven score involvements (no. 1 at Melbourne) and 52 pressure points (also no. 1 at the Dees by a mile).
He famously warned the Demons and his list manager dad Todd not to overlook him before that 2012 father-son bidding meeting.
“I would be quite disappointed. I would do everything in my power to make them regret that decision,’’ he said.
As it turned out, a Demons recruiting team with so many skeletons in the closet worked hard — then got lucky.
It was one of the two GWS mini-draft years, as clubs desperately tried to secure the rights to 17-year-old talents Jack Martin and Hogan.
By the time of the father-son bidding meeting the Demons and Giants had agreed Melbourne would offer selections 3 and 13 for WA tall Hogan later in the week.
It meant GWS, already with the draft’s first pick, was never going to bid for Viney.
But as then-Demons recruiter Tim Harrington recalled, Gold Coast made the Demons sweat on Viney.
“We knew Gold Coast were keen on Martin but they came and met with Todd Viney and Kelly O’Donnell and said out of courtesy we are telling you we are going to take Jack Viney.”
Melbourne believed it would have to use one its two early picks — it had 3 and 4 — to secure Viney.
On the day of the meeting Melbourne held its nerve and Gold Coast eventually baulked, keeping to its private plan to trade its no. 2 pick for Martin.
It meant Melbourne could take Viney with its next pick — 26 — then days later secure Hogan for picks 3 and 13, getting back pick 20.
The haul could have been even better, with pick 4 turning into Jimmy Toumpas and 20 and 47 being traded for injury-prone forward Chris Dawes.
Still, Harrington believes Viney and Hogan can set Melbourne up for sustained success.
“We would have matched a bid for Jack undoubtedly and used pick 3 or 4. We rated him that highly,’’ Harrington said.
“It has become essential for Melbourne. Jack Viney was always considered to be a potential captain of the club with his personality type. He is a driven kid and he can play.
“And Todd Viney, Cam Schwab and Kelly said we have got to get Hogan. There was no question they wanted Jesse.
“He was just a complete beast. He was a man then and he had a hunger to hunt the ball.
“He was particularly hard on his teammates, a very demanding young man. That has led to some criticism this year but he is 22 now and kicking seven goals.”
Toumpas was a dominant SANFL star but has been found out at AFL level given an inability to win tough footy and make good decisions.
“At the time it was looked upon as what a good get. Well done,’’ says Harrington.
“As it turns out Jimmy is not the player everyone thought he would be and he might not make it at Port Adelaide. But to get Jesse and Jack in that year was a bonus.”
Five-goal Kozzie on future, finals and MCG ‘goosebumps’
Kysaiah Pickett lit up the ‘G again on Sunday with a masterful performance against Sydney. Hear from the star Demon in the rooms after the game.
‘Belief’ builds at Dees as Fagan offers frank admission about Lions
Simon Goodwin can see the belief growing at Melbourne after a stunning win in Brisbane as Lions coach Chris Fagan declared his side were “annihilated” in the final term.