Jack Viney opens up on turbulent 2024, how Dees get back to the top in 2025

Melbourne star Jack Viney says the problems faced by the club in 2024 should be a thing of the past after a pre-season that prioritised player connection and team bonding.

Melbourne veteran hard nut Jack Viney says the club’s decision to prioritise player connection and team bonding has allowed it to overcome last year’s problems.

The Demons’ culture was heavily questioned as midfield superstars Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca weighed up their futures at the club last season.

But reigning best-and-fairest winner Viney, who ran a personal best 2km time trial over summer, said the Demons had changed their approach with the help of mindset master Ben Crowe.

The former co-captain said a pre-season camp at Bright, which focused heavily on the players’ connection, perspective and communication, had laid the foundation for the team to climb back up the ladder this season.

“At the start of pre-season it was done a little bit differently going away to Bright,” Viney said at an event to announce new sponsor Grill’d.

Jack Viney says the Dees have rediscovered a bond. Picture: Melbourne FC.,

“Typically, you come back day one of pre-season and you can be straight into time trials and that sort of stuff, but I think it is why ‘Goody’ (Simon Goodwin) is such a good coach.

“He identified that probably doing a 2km time trial off the bat probably wasn’t what we needed as a group, so we added some things into the program with Crowey.

“He has worked with some really successful individuals and teams and getting his feel on how some of the best have done it in the past.

“It gives everyone a better perspective.

“I think over the course of history, if you looked, all of the successful teams – you see the connection and the bond created.

“It is almost the number one thing. Without that there is not much point in doing too much else.”

The issues last year also cost the Demons gun half back Dan Houston, who changed his mind on Melbourne and selected to continue his career at Collingwood.

Viney was among the leaders who spoke with Petracca and Oliver about their frustrations last season.

He said the robust discussions helped clear the decks as the midfield group looked to re-establish itself as one of the top combinations in the league in 2025.

Petracca and Oliver were both on the outer at the end of 2024. Picture: Michael Klein

“I love having these robust discussions about opportunities to improve because it just creates optimism about what we are able to achieve,” he said.

“So I’m really thankful we had these conversations which, at the time, can be challenging but I think when you come out the other end of it, you come away optimistic and really excited about the future of the footy club.

“I have full belief.

“My expectation is that we have got talent and work rate and work ethic, all the right components to make a really good midfield.

“We should be up at the top-end of the midfields in the competition. That is my expectation - that we find a way of getting it done.”

The Demons have tweaked their coaching staff and their game plan, with half back Caleb Windsor expected to play half back.

Trent Rivers is set to play predominantly midfield and Kysaiah Pickett will join him onball for periods.

Harry Petty has returned to defence as the club looks to find a consistent new groove in attack and generate more scoring power.

“I don’t think the core essence of our game will change too much,” Viney said.

“But in terms of little ways of executing, I think that will probably be a little bit different.”