No complacency: Viney says season-opening GF rematch the perfect motivator

A grand final rematch in round one as the AFL season-opener has served as the perfect motivator for the new premiers to “train our arses off” over the pre-season, according to Melbourne vice-captain Jack Viney.

Though Viney said most Melbourne players were about to begin this pre-season fitter than they did last year in their premiership season.

Jack Viney, holding his daughter, walks out on to the MCG as a premiership player.Credit: Getty Images

Melbourne will play the Western Bulldogs on a Wednesday night to launch the season and Viney said it was just the motivation the team needed, and would mitigate any thought of complacency.

“Knowing you are going to come up against the [next] best team in the competition you have got to come with your A-game and it’s going to be a pretty big motivational factor, I think,” Viney said.

“When I heard the news I was ecstatic - kicking off the AFL season. Typically we have been pushed to the Sunday afternoon twilight game, so to be kicking things off with a grand final rematch is almost motivation in a sense that we know the Doggies are going to be firing, so we have to train our arses off over the pre-season and make sure we come ready to kick the season off.

“This is a fiercely competitive competition. We lost games to teams who didn’t play finals last year, so any team on any given day can beat the next, and teams would have finished extremely hungry - they will have reviewed their programs [and] come up with strategies to better themselves, and we have to do the same. We have to keep evolving and looking for ways to improve.”

Melbourne’s main group officially returns for pre-season training on Monday, although Viney said all players had been given a program for the off-season.

“We have got a new strength and conditioning coach with Darren Burgess leaving, [and] he wants to make his mark early. He has got us training hard at the moment, so I know a few boys have some nervous energy about the time trials tomorrow.

“The majority of the playing group are even fitter than coming into the pre-season last year. We are in a good position and I know the guys are looking forward to starting.”

Viney spoke at the Demons’ grand final celebration day at the MCG where about 30,000 Melbourne fans turned out to watch a replay of the match on the big screens and have the players presented on stage. It was like a re-enactment of grand final day on the MCG.

“This didn’t feel like [just] another event for us players - this was the first time we got to celebrate with our family and friends, and being able to take my daughter up on stage with me was a special memory I will never forget.

Jack Viney and Alex Neal-Bullen embark on a lap of honour. Credit: AFL Photos

“I haven’t watched the game back in its entirety, [but I’ve] seen plenty of the highlights reel, seen plenty of Trac’s goal from the boundary.”

Viney said Sunday was a good way to “close the chapter on last season” before pre-season begins Monday.

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