Jack Viney declares he would ‘100 per cent’ support Max Gawn as captain but wants to stay in leadership role
Jack Viney wants to stay captain of Melbourne next year, but says he’ll throw his full support behind ruckman Max Gawn if he’s named the club’s sole skipper. Here’s when the Demons captaincy will be decided.
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Melbourne captain Jack Viney wants to retain his leadership title but would fully support Max Gawn should the Demons turn to their superstar ruckman to lead next year’s revival mission on his own.
Viney said that coach Simon Goodwin had thrown the club’s captaincy race open with no decisions to be made until deep in the pre-season.
The midfield warrior joined Nathan Jones as co-captain on the eve of the 2017 season, which was Goodwin’s first as senior coach.
Jones, 31, stepped down at the end of this season.
“I’m not sure what will happen,” Viney told the Sunday Herald Sun.
“I’d love to co-captain the club with (Gawn), but Goody from the get-go said that position, the captaincy, was going to be open.
“There’s nothing set in stone, he’s just going to let the pre-season unfold and then he’ll evaluate and the players will evaluate it and we’ll come up with the combination we feel is best for the club.
“I love leading the footy club, but at the same time if the coaches think Maxy is the best man to take us forward and there’s no co-captaincy, or whatever needs to be done, I’ll support 100 per cent.
“But I love the responsibility and leading the club.”
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Viney was unsure what method the Demons would choose to appoint next year’s skipper.
Some clubs conduct private ballots while others opt for players casting their votes openly to encourage them giving peers constructive feedback.
“Often the players have a strong input, the coaches have some input as well and Goody and the big dogs will decide and work it out from there,” Viney said.
Viney qualifies for restricted free agency when his contract expires next year, although said that wouldn’t weigh on his mind.
“The club has always been good to me and when that process comes about I’m sure we’ll nail it on the head pretty quickly,” he said.
“I’m not fussed (when that is). When the club and my management are ready to crunch it out we’ll do that. I’ll just worry about training on the track and let that stuff just happen.”
The inspirational onballer met Harley Bennell on Friday and said he would “love for him to be part of the Demons family”.
Viney married partner Charlotte on the eve of the season and spent last month in Europe on a belated honeymoon.
“There’s no real aim (for 2020),” Viney said.
“Certainly it’s to improve a lot from last season. It’s just about making the most of every session – that’s where we’re focused – because we believe in the coaches, we believe in our game plan and if we train it well then we understand it’s really going to stack up.”