Viney undergoes surgery, King injured in VFL as AFL clubs make moves
Melbourne Demons
Jack Viney Injury and Recovery
Melbourne Demons player Jack Viney underwent surgery on Tuesday for an Achilles tendon injury. The club initially hoped surgery could be avoided, and Viney followed a conservative rest and recovery plan that included minimal training over the summer. He also dealt with a back injury.
An attempt to increase his training load in January resulted in the Achilles injury flaring up again, leading to the decision for surgery. He is expected to miss at least three months, which will affect his availability for the first half of the 2026 AFL season. Viney is scheduled to begin running within the next two weeks as part of his rehabilitation.
Midfield Impact
Viney's absence will affect Melbourne's midfield lineup for their season opener against St Kilda. The midfield has already seen changes with the departures of Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver. New additions to the midfield include former St Kilda captain Jack Steele, along with draftees Harvey Langford, Caleb Windsor, and Xavier Lindsay. Kysaiah Pickett is also expected to play a role further up the field. Captain Max Gawn is the only remaining regular midfielder from the past decade's quartet for the opening round.
Other Player Absences
Melbourne player Jake Bowey is recovering from lisfranc injury surgery performed in December and is expected to miss at least six months.
New Coach Steven King
Melbourne secured a 13-point victory over St Kilda at the MCG on Sunday, marking Steven King's first match as head coach. King was appointed approximately one month after the club dismissed coach Simon Goodwin in August. During King's first meeting with captain Max Gawn, Gawn expressed concerns about the implications of change at the club.
St Kilda Saints
Max King Hamstring Injury
St Kilda forward Max King left the field during the first half of a VFL match against Carlton on Saturday with a suspected hamstring injury. King had recently returned from a previous injury. He grabbed at his left hamstring after taking a mark and had kicked two goals and taken five marks before exiting. King has not played at AFL level for two years due to injuries.
Season Performance and Strategy
St Kilda began the season with a 13-point loss to Melbourne at the MCG, their second consecutive defeat. Former St Kilda player Leigh Montagna stated that it is premature to raise alarms regarding the team's performance, noting they have "played pretty well without winning." Montagna said the team's off-season recruitment, which included players such as Tom De Koning, Sam Flanders, Jack Silvagni, and Liam Ryan, suggests a three- to four-year window for top-four contention.
Key Player Notes
- Tom De Koning: Montagna stated that De Koning will be a consistently good ruckman over time and that his contract value is not a primary concern.
- Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera: Montagna noted that Wanganeen-Milera has faced increased opposition attention, leading to a reduction in his average disposals.
- Max King: Montagna identified King's return to full health and form as critical for the team's aspirations.
Other AFL Club News
Essendon Football Club Appoints New CEO
Tim Roberts has been appointed as Essendon's new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Roberts was previously the vice president and a board member of the club. This appointment concludes a two-month search for Craig Vozzo's successor. Roberts will remain on the Bombers' board, relinquishing his vice presidency. He has been a club director since 2022 and brings over 30 years of experience from the construction industry. Craig Vozzo will continue to assist the club as a list and recruitment consultant. Roberts is the fourth CEO for the Bombers in three years and will commence his role on Monday.
Fremantle Dockers Secure Key Players
The Fremantle Dockers have re-signed reigning best-and-fairest player Caleb Serong. Other players who have recently extended their contracts include Andrew Brayshaw (until 2031), Hayden Young (2033), Luke Jackson (2029), and Murphy Reid (2029). The club's immediate focus is now on securing captain Alex Pearce's signature. Pearce is set to be out of contract next season.
Izak Rankine Returns to Adelaide Crows
Adelaide Crows player Izak Rankine has completed a four-match AFL suspension for a homophobic slur used against Collingwood opponent Isaac Quaynor in August. He is scheduled to play his first match in seven months when the Crows host the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.
Brisbane Lions' Whiteboard Notes Leaked
A whiteboard containing Brisbane Lions' assessments of Essendon players was photographed and posted on a social media fan page. The notes included labels such as "selfish" for Zach Merrett and Kyle Langford, "hot head" for Sam Durham, and "kicking cough up" for Andrew McGrath. Lions co-captain Josh Dunkley acknowledged the leak was "disappointing" but stated that the notes were written by younger players as a learning exercise.