Dees nix talk of hoodoo
MELBOURNE’S poor record against Geelong will not be spoken about internally, according to Dees co-captain Jack Viney.
Last year, under first-year coach Simon Goodwin, the Demons broke a number of hoodoos that had haunted the club for the past decade.
It had 24 defeats from its 25 previous matches at Docklands, dating to 2008, before it won three of four matches at Etihad Stadium last season.
The Demons also snapped a 14-game losing streak against St Kilda.
But Viney said his players had not spoken about righting the wrongs of a one-from-13 recent record against Geelong.
“We’re trying to win every game and the hoodoos and around the games — I think we’ve got one against North Melbourne, as well, we haven’t beaten them in a while — we don’t speak about that stuff internally,” he said.
“We just focus on what needs to be done to win and hopefully we can execute it.”
All 17 club captains outside of Joel Selwood tipped the Cats for a top-eight finish, and Viney said it would be important for the Demons to make an impression against the flag contender.
“They’ve proven to be over a long period of time now, so I certainly expect them to be very competitive,” he said.
“I’m glad to be having Round 1 to try to kickstart our season in good style.”
But Viney will not face Geelong at the MCG on Sunday, as he overcomes a series of foot injuries.
“It’s been really frustrating. I was planning to be running and back fully training at the start of preseason,” he said.
“Unfortunately, having surgery on my plantar fascia and then having a stress fracture in my foot, you do run differently.
“Every time I’ve gone to pick up my training load, a little niggle has come up.
“My foot is going well, not well enough to play Round 1, but I’m definitely over the hump and won’t be back too long after Round 1.”