AFL 2025: Melbourne has hopeful return date for star Jack Viney

He has not played since Melbourne got on a roll in round 8, but the Demons have a hopeful timeline for one of their injured superstars.

Melbourne is hopeful star midfielder Jack Viney will miss only one more week despite undergoing surgery on his hand earlier this week.

Viney slipped over and fractured his hand at training in Alice Springs last week and required immediate surgery.

The premiership Demon has not played since he entered concussion protocols following Melbourne’s five-goal win over West Coast in round 8.

The Demons, which sit two wins outside the eight, have Collingwood in the annual King’s Birthday bout before Port Adelaide on the road next week.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said the healing of Viney’s wound would determine his return date but was optimistic he could face the Power at Adelaide Oval.

“Yeah, it went well, I have never seen a surgery that hasn’t gone well, but it went well,” he said.

Jack Viney is pushing for a return as early as next week. Picture: Michael Klein

“You know it now comes down to the wound and making sure he’s functional.

“Whether that’s next week or the week after, we will wait and see. We’re hopeful there’s an opportunity for next week, but we haven’t put any definite timeline on that.”

The Demons’ building 2025 campaign hit a bollard last week when they lost to St Kilda.

Melbourne dominated the play, particularly in the second half, but kicked a wasteful 21 behinds.

With Carlton (13th) and Sydney (14th) favoured to collect wins, last week’s loss forces the 12th-placed Demons into do-or-die mode against Collingwood.

They will need to make at least one change after forward Aidan Johnson copped a two-match ban for a high bump on Saint Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.

Matt Jefferson has kicked successive hauls of five goals in the VFL, while Jacob van Rooyen has averaged two goals and 18 disposals further up the ground across the past two weeks.

Melbourne could turn to young forward Jacob van Rooyen for its marquee fixture against Collingwood. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“With Aidan Johnson being suspended that presents an opportunity,” Goodwin said.

“It’s going to be a tough decision because Matthew Jefferson and Jacob van Rooyen are both playing outstanding footy.

“Obviously, everyone looks at Matty Jefferson kicking 10 goals over two weeks, I think van Rooyen has kicked six or seven.

“They’re both playing outstanding footy, we’ve got some decisions to make later in the week around who comes in.

“What we do know is the two guys who have gone back to get into form, they’re in really good form. We’re excited by that.”

Originally published as AFL 2025: Melbourne has hopeful return date for star Jack Viney