Jack Viney is excited by the promise of West Coast’s list as he bids farewell to Melbourne to continue his playing career as an Eagle.
The uncompromising midfielder was traded to West Coast on deadline day alongside Trent Rivers, having decided after a recent visit to Perth with his wife Charlotte to bring their three daughters out west.
Viney links up with Eagles senior coach Andrew McQualter, who coached him in the Demons’ engine room in 2024, as well as former Melbourne assistant turned West Coast midfield mentor Sam Radford.
“Super excited. Obviously it was a big decision to come from Victoria to potentially make the move over to Western Australia,” Viney said.
“But after I spoke to ‘Mini’, Sammy Radford, Mitch Duncan and a few other people familiar to the club and got to go visit and check out what WA is all about Charlotte and I got back on the plane coming home and thought we were pretty keen to come over.
“Really excited to be a part of it and the exciting list, youthful group that I’m really looking forward to being part of.”
Viney saw it all at Melbourne across 238 games, including the 2021 drought-breaking premiership.
He was drafted at pick 26 as a father-son selection in 2012 and was part of the team that built towards success, drawing similarities to West Coast’s developing list.
“There’s a lot of exciting things, the list is in a great position and the foundations have been built to build upon,” Viney said.
“That’s an exciting opportunity for me to share some my experiences of my journey at the Dees and also contribute on the track and have an impact on the footy field too.
“Feeling like the club is in a great position to launch and go from strength to strength.”
Viney has forged a reputation as an outstanding leader at Melbourne – where he was captain and then vice-captain to Max Gawn – and as a fearless midfield warrior.
Eagles young gun Harley Reid plays in a similar style and Viney is looking forward to getting to work with the reigning John Worsfold medallist, and the likes of fellow No.1 draft pick Willem Duursma.
“I love the way Harley plays his football, physical and aggressive and on the edge,” Viney said.
“I like to think I play my football in a similar fashion, so if he’s got someone else to help bash heads in there with I’m more than happy to give him a chop out.
“But it’s an exciting youthful group along with the (midfield) coach Sammy Radford who I have got experience with at the Dees so looking forward to coming in and getting to work and earning the respect of those guys and helping them out where I can.”
