Viney, Daniher continue family traditions

Updated October 08, 2012 11:44:25

Melbourne has snared Jack Viney for a bargain and Joe Daniher will continue his family's remarkable tradition at Essendon under the AFL's father-son rule.

Lachie Hunter, who joined Western Bulldogs, was the other recruit in Monday's father-son bidding meeting.

The Bombers were forced to use their top pick in November's national draft, number 10 overall, but that was considered a good deal for tall forward Daniher, the son of Anthony, who played 115 matches for the club.

Joe will become the sixth Daniher to play for the Bombers, joining Anthony's brothers Terry, the 1984-85 premiership captain, Neale and Chris.

His brother Darcy was also at the club for four years before his career was cut short by injury in 2011.

"They've looked after my family for so many years and I'm looking to repay them for what they've done for my family and what they've done for me," Joe Daniher said.

The Demons had only to use their fourth draft pick, number 26 overall, to gain midfielder Viney, the son of Melbourne 233-gamer Todd, who is now on their recruiting staff.

Demons list manager Tim Harrington says they would have been prepared to use their top pick, number three, to snare Viney, who they had declared they wanted two years ago.

"We rated Jack at that pick at least and there's other clubs who would have rated him there or higher as well so we're just really thrilled," Harrington said.

Their top pick was not needed after Gold Coast, who had pick number two, decided not to bid for either Viney or Daniher.

The Suns instead traded their number two pick to Greater Western Sydney in exchange for the rights to draft exciting 17-year-old Jack Martin.

With the Demons having spent the past two years overseeing Viney's training program and the teenager spending this year with their VFL affiliate Casey, Harrington says he could step straight into senior football.

"The whole program this year was based around Jack getting prepared to play round one," Harrington said.

The deal left the Demons with picks number three, number four and number 13 available to assist their trade aims of snaring Collingwood pair Chris Dawes and Sharrod Wellingham, who has said he wants to join West Coast, and the Suns' Josh Caddy.

Hunter was drafted with the Bulldogs' pick number 46.

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, melbourne-3000

First posted October 08, 2012 11:34:10

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Demons hope to use Viney next year

Updated October 08, 2012 22:33:01

Melbourne coach Mark Neeld will back Jack Viney's strong self-belief and talent, saying he hopes the teenager will make his AFL debut next season.

After weeks of speculation, the Demons secured Viney with the bargain national draft pick of number 26 in Monday's father-son bidding meeting.

There had been plenty of speculation that Gold Coast might bid for Viney with its first-round pick, forcing the Demons to match that with their top pick at number three or give him up to the Suns.

Viney said last week that if Melbourne did not pick him, he would make them regret it.

But there was no high bid for Viney, who was rated as a potential top-10 draft pick on the open market.

He is the son of 233-game Melbourne player Todd Viney, now the Demons' player development manager.

"If Jack completes a full preseason, those types of things, we see him playing straight away - keep in mind that Jack has been already part of the place for a year," Neeld said.

"He fits in very well - if you were to give a description of a player or types of player that we need to help us progress up the ladder, Jack fits that description really well."

The younger Viney, who is still at school, first dreamt of becoming an AFL player since he made the Victorian under-12 team.

"Personally, I reckon I was worth pick three - I'm really looking forward to putting my foot in the door at Melbourne and I've been fortunate enough to get the opportunity," he said.

Neeld declined to say whether they would have used their top pick on Viney.

"The strategy was to wait and see," he said.

"You guys will never know, but we were quite happy that he was there at 26.

"We'd discussed a whole lot of things ... I'm just pleased to say that Jack is going to play at Melbourne next year."

Now Melbourne will try to trade for experienced players to bolster its list.

There has been speculation that the Dees will use their second draft pick at number four to recruit Collingwood player Chris Dawes and Sharrod Wellingham, although Wellingham wants to go to West Coast.

St Kilda utility Farren Ray is another player potentially on Melbourne's trading radar.

"It's amazing how many friends you pick up with you have numbers three, four and 13 in the draft," Neeld said.

"We've made no secret that if there are a couple of experienced players around who we think will play in our senior side and then add some know-how and guidance to an inexperienced club, we'd certainly look at it."

AAP

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted October 08, 2012 22:33:01

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