Melbourne vice-captain Jack Viney will play his first game in almost 12 months as the midfielder attempts to be part of the surging Demons’ finals campaign.
Having dealt with complex back and Achilles injuries, Viney hasn’t played a match at any level this season.
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Viney’s last game was Melbourne’s Round 24 loss to Collingwood last August, before Steven King took over as Demons coach.
But the premiership hero will return via the VFL on Sunday when the Casey Demons face Box Hill.
“He’s been full training now for nearly a month … so we finally get a game into him,” King said on Tuesday.
“He’s obviously chomping at the bit, vice-captain of our footy club and the ultimate competitor and the type of player you want to run out with.
“We’ve got to make sure that we do what’s right for Jack and right for the footy club.
“But if he can get through that game, then he’ll put his name up in lights and make himself available and see what happens from there.”
After a stunning four-point win over premiership favourites Fremantle last Saturday, Melbourne locked in their finals spot.
Having an experienced player like Viney slot into a September campaign makes the Demons a dangerous prospect.
But King has cautioned against expecting too much from the 32-year-old.
“We have to respect what he’s been through,” King said of Viney.
“But I feel like you can’t just get given a game on reputation and your standing.
“The first thing is just to get through a whole competitive game, and make sure he pulls up OK.
“I want him to actually make sure of the long term as well and that he leaves this year well, ready for next season.”
Complicating any AFL return for Viney, Casey’s VFL campaign comes to an end this Sunday as they have not qualified for finals.
King has expressed his frustration at the inconsistent scheduling of the VFL, with numerous byes during the season making it hard for reserves players to build any momentum.
“We’ve got professional athletes that need to play games and develop, and that’s what I feel like the VFL competition is for – it’s for us to develop young men to play and be ready to play AFL,” King said
“For every week they have off, that’s a missed opportunity where they get to develop and grow and learn.
“It’s something I feel like the AFL certainly needs to look at aligning the seasons.”
Youngster Latrelle Pickett will also return via the VFL this weekend after recovering from a concussion.
Pickett was spoken to by Demons leaders after consuming alcohol days after suffering the head knock in a defeat to Geelong three weeks ago.
King called the counselling of Pickett a “non-story”.
