Mention the name Jack Viney and you won’t be able to wipe the smile off Simon Goodwin’s face.
The Melbourne coach’s love for his tough midfielder should come as no surprise, given the latter’s inspirational form.
Viney was a dominant figure in the Demons’ four-point defeat of Collingwood, claiming best afield honours in the King’s Birthday blockbuster in front of more than 83,000 fans.
“I can’t stop smiling when we talk about Jack. He’s just a warrior,” Goodwin told reporters post-match.
“He wears his heart on his sleeve, he loves his footy club and he plays like that all the time.
“To see him get the reward externally I think is really important for him.”
Viney stepped up again in the absence of injured teammate Clayton Oliver – and with Christian Petracca below his best – tallying 32 disposals, 19 contested possessions, 11 tackles, nine clearances and a goal against the Magpies.
And, fittingly, the 184-game veteran won the crucial last centre clearance to seal the Demons’ victory, which improved their record to 9-4 and put them within striking distance of the top two.
“That’s what he does,” Goodwin said.
“When the game’s there and willing and it’s contest, and it was pretty scrappy that last 30 seconds, once again he stood up when he needed to.”
In trademark fashion, Viney soldiered on despite hurting his shoulder in a third-quarter collision with Beau McCreery.
Goodwin momentarily thought his star man was done for the game but need not have worried.
“We were just about to pull the sub, then he came off, so that put a bit of a spanner in the works,” Goodwin said.
“Within a minute he said, ‘I’m right to go, coach. Get me back out there.’ So that was pleasing.”