MELBOURNE will have the midfield it wants at the opening bounce of the Demons’ season as they aim to honour club and AFL great Jim Stynes.
Sunday’s round-one clash with Greater Western Sydney at the MCG on the eve of St Patrick’s Day is the Jim Stynes Game, remembering the Irish import who last month was elevated to legend status at Melbourne.
At Tuesday’s launch, vice-captain Jack Viney modelled the emerald green socks and the guernsey with the shamrock emblem that the team will wear against the Giants.
At their best and fairest awards in October, club president Brad Green delighted the club’s faithful fans when he promised the team’s midfield combination at the opening bounce of this season would be captain Max Gawn, Viney, Petracca and Oliver.
Melbourne’s Jack Viney at the launch of the Jim Stynes Game, 11th March, 2025. Picture: Melbourne FC
“I can’t wait. I’m sick of training. This is what we do,” Viney said of Sunday’s match.
“‘Trac’ and ‘Clarry’ (Oliver) have been staples of that midfield now for a long time … we’ve put in a big summer of work and we’re looking forward to putting our best selves out on show on Sunday.”
Oliver – who was also at the Stynes Game launch – and Petracca have enjoyed strong pre-seasons.
Viney called Petracca an “ultimate pro” and said most of the problems around him last year were off-field matters.
“I expect him to be back to his best and loving footy again. It feels like a long time ago now, we’ve put in a really good block of work,” Viney said.
Christian Petracca in action during Melbourne’s AAMI Community Series match against Fremantle on March 2, 2025. Picture: AFL Photos
“We’re looking forward to getting out there on Sunday and letting (our) footy to the talking.
“It’s just like riding a bike for Trac – back on it and dominating.”
Viney’s pre-season was disrupted by a rib injury, but he is looking forward to tough GWS opponents such as Toby Greene or Toby Bedford giving him a workout.
“It was just a little incident at training, a bit sore for a week, but I’m cherry-ripe now,” he said.
“I don’t doubt they’ll give them (ribs) a good test … and I’m waiting.”
But Viney and his teammates have sat up and taken notice after the Giants mauled Collingwood last Sunday.
“They were sharp, they played a really good game of footy. It means we’re going to be training pretty sharp this week, I reckon, because we know they’re in good form,” he said.
Viney is on the board of the Jim Stynes Foundation, Melbourne’s community arm, which aims to help improve the lives of young people.
After winning the 1991 Brownlow Medal, Stynes became Melbourne’s president and was also lauded for his community work.
Stynes died of cancer in 2012, aged only 45, and Viney spoke of the Irishman’s enduring inspiration.
Melbourne President Jim Stynes in the crowd during the round 4 match between Richmond and Melbourne at the MCG. Picture: AFL Photos
“Unless Jim said ‘no’ in his own head, it was possible,” Viney said.
“Whatever it was, he never took ‘no’ for an answer.”
Former teammate David Neitz called Stynes a “demigod”.
“He never listened too much to the negative,” Neitz said at Tuesday’s launch.
