CAPTAINS TWO

Last year's Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial Trophy winner was named co-captain with Nathan Jones at the start of the season. The move worked and both skippers provided strong leadership as the team rose up the ladder to become a genuine top four challenger by Round 15.

However, by that time, Jones was already injured and, to compound matters, Viney failed to return to the field after half-time in the team's 35-point loss to Sydney and subsequent scans showed he required surgery to release his plantar fascia. He recovered sooner than expected and was sensational on his return but further foot issues derailed his end to the season and he is not expected back on the track until the new year.

Date of Birth: 13 April, 1994

Height: 178cm

Weight: 86kg

Games MFC 2017: 18

Career Total: 88

Goals MFC 2017: 6

Career Total: 25

 

Season 2017 AFL Statistics

Kicks: 151

Handballs: 264

Disposals: 415

Marks: 44

Scores: 6 goals 5 behinds

Goal Assists: 2

Tackles: 126

Hitouts: 0

Clearances: 98

Clangers: 47

Inside 50s: 49

Rebound 50s: 19

Frees For: 28

Frees Against: 18

 

I spoke to Jack this morning. He's still in his moon boot. The club has not put him on a program. They've told him to put his feet up until there is no pain in his foot and then talk to them about the next step once this occurs. He said the foot is improving slowly, but he is frustrated and can't wait to head out for a run again. 

I think we all know now that this bloke is our most important player. It would be just our luck if he can't properly recover from his injury. All the best Jack.

Came back to early sadly....

Just a f'ing gun. When he was fit he was sublime.

he is clearly one of the best and most determined players i have ever seen in the red and blue

the way he plays and what he does for the side is an absolute inspiration

i was not sure about making him co-captain - i thought it was not necessary; better to let him serve as vice to jones for at least a year or two - but he is an inspiration and such a clear leader that it was clearly the correct decision

i want him to be our joel selwood

i am absolutely PETRIFIED about his foot injury

We really need this guy to have a full season without injury.

If that happens next year we will be pushing top 4 easily.

Jack's best work this year was excellent, but for the most part he was down on the high standards he set last year. Who knows how long his foot was bothering him before we heard about it. 

Unfortunately the injury was badly mismanaged by the club (and possibly the player), and there is every chance that this will remain an issue into the 2018 season. That would be a massive setback, as our midfield remains our weakest link and we need our best players firing in that part of the ground.

 

Club leader who sets the benchmark for effort required by his own example.

Lets make sure he is absolutely spot on/injury free before he gets back out there.

 

We just need him fit and out there. He's a culture changer who goes hard and drags others with him.

Having said that, this was his worst season since 2014 due to injury. His first 5-6 games we poor-average. He didn't get a preseason due to hip surgery and he was clearly limited for the first 5-6 games by lack of fitness and discomfort with his hips. His numbers and impact were well down. It was hard to watch him unable to impact contests with his usual intensity, and unfortunately he went into his shell and stopped leading vocally too at this time. Hopefully he learnt some lessons about leadership from this tough time. 
Once his fitness built up and he regained movement through his hips, he was back to his old self through the middle of the year and had a few great games. The game against West Coast in particular was brilliant and showed what a great leader he is by both his performance and ability to inspire those around him with his actions. Then he got injured again and his season was up and down for a few weeks before he succumbed and sat out the end. 

If Jack can get over his foot injury, get fit, and have a full season next year then we will be a far better team for it. He's a game changer out there on field for us. He's one of the few we have (sadly) who always gives 100% effort. His burst of pace upon initial acceleration gives him a point of difference to the rest of our slow midfield. His intensity for tackles and winning contested ball is brilliant. We just need him out there fit and able to do it consistently. If he has a good preseason and full season in 2018 he is good enough to push towards Brownlow territory and lead us to a top 4 finish.

....and he cannot do this in the middle by himself...

Congrats on the back to back bluey's JV. You're an absolute champ.