Dees’ stand-in skipper opens up on ‘different’ pre-game address, stunning performance

Cometh the moment, cometh the man.

With Melbourne under enormous pressure heading into a Thursday night blockbuster against Brisbane Lions, Jack Viney put in an inspired performance as stand-in skipper, virtually willing his side forward as he has done so often throughout his 162-game career.

The leadership role is one Viney knows well – he was co-captain between 2017 and 2019 – and, given that responsibility once more on Thursday, the 28-year-old proved why he is more than up to the challenge.

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“I take a lot of pride in being a leader of the football club, I love the responsibility,” he told foxfooty.com.au after a stunning performance in a 64-point win that included 34 disposals (19 contested), seven tackles, eight score involvements and a goal assist.

“Obviously with ‘Gawny’ (Max Gawn) going down all the leaders of the football club have to shoulder the extra load because he’s such a good leader and such a terrific player for us.

“I felt like all the leaders of our football club stood up tonight.”

An animated Viney in the pre-game address drew a few eyes given it was markedly different to Gawn – something Viney himself readily admits.

“I’m probably slightly different to Gawny, I’m probably a little bit more intense. That’s just how I roll,” he said.

“I was just reiterating Goody’s messages throughout the week about role, I just delivered it a bit more intensely.”

From a role point of view, Viney couldn’t have done much more.

“He relished the role as skipper without Max Gawn. He led from the front,” Leigh Montagna said on Fox Footy post-game.

“His ability to break tackles, drive out of contest, win the hard ball and then his pressure and everything else he does, he got the rest of the team to jump on his back late in the first quarter when Brisbane had all the ascendancy.

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“He just led beautifully. He’s had a good month, he’s been playing really strong footy despite the team struggling. I thought he was terrific.”

The trademark toughness of Viney was on full display, with the midfielder involved in bruising contests on more than one occasion, only to get back up and toil on.

“The legend about him as an 18-year-old kid is that they used to have to take him out of some under-age games because he was too tough for the other kids, he was hurting the other kids,” David King remarked.

“I think every now and then he puts one of these games to us all and says this is who I am, I’m a little bit tougher than the average player and I’m going to just ruin your night.”

Jason Dunstall agreed, adding: “Performances like this when he can highlight the strength inside the contest and then the ability to dish out like that, then you don’t have to worry about is he the purest kick going around or hitting targets all over the ground. He’s doing the grunt work that’s enabling those around him.

“If you wanted to show players how to approach a contest or a football game, you just show Jack Viney.”

Viney’s praises were sung by many throughout the night, including Gawn himself, who was one of many on Twitter lauding the tough nut’s performance.

For Viney, it’s all background noise… albeit good.

“It’s good to know the fans and my teammates really love what I bring to the game,” he said.

“I try and stay away from the praise and the blame as well. I try and keep my motivations pretty neutral, keep a mindset focused on what gets me up every week.”