Melbourne taking the “right approach” over Viney’s recovery: Dal Santo

Former St Kilda and North Melbourne midfielder Nick Dal Santo said there is no rush to bring Melbourne captain Jack Viney back into the senior side.

Demons coach Simon Goodwin announced today that Viney will return via the VFL this week, as he continues to recover from a persistent foot injury.

Dal Santo believes with the Dees’ upcoming fixtures, it would be sensible to preserve the midfielder until he is at optimal fitness so he can hit the ground running for the remainder of the season.

“I think it’s the right approach,” he told SEN Afternoons.

“I don’t think a player who has been out and is important as Jack is needs to come straight back in to AFL level.

“If you want to be really positive and you’re trying to take the optimistic look at it, then Jack’s only going to play 14 or 15 games.

“At the end of the year if they’re playing finals when everyone is fatigued and playing with some sort of injury or carrying some sort of sore spot.

“Jack’s only got 15 weeks of that contact, pounding feeling that the others have done for 22 weeks.

“There’s no rush. They play the Gold Cost this week and without being disrespectful you would probably think the Dees would win that.

“So why rush your skipper back in and expose him to something he may not be ready for just yet.”

Melbourne travel to the Gabba to take on the Suns on Saturday afternoon.