WITH the 2025 campaign now complete, Melbourne vice-captain Jack Viney has taken time to reflect on the challenges of the season and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Speaking after the final round, Viney admitted it was difficult to move on straight away, acknowledging the disappointment of falling short of expectations.

“It’s a bit of a weird time to process the season,” Viney said.

“It feels like there’s a bit of a grieving phase. Obviously, it was a disappointing year, not where we want to be. But I think there’s a lot of improvement to come, and in a few days, there’ll be a big level of optimism and excitement about getting to work, particularly with a new coach coming in.”

Despite the tough finish, the midfielder said his approach to preparation doesn’t change, regardless of results.

“It stays the same whether you have a good year or a bad year,” he said.

“You reflect, you identify the areas that need to improve, and then you put in a plan to change that. That’s what excites me most about our job - there’s always room to improve. You go after it and work to create change.”

After carrying niggles late in the season, Viney said he was looking forward to a period of recovery, while also reflecting on the responsibility of stepping up through a difficult year.

“It does become more consuming towards the back end of the season, but I’m looking forward to some rest, spending time with family and broadening my view a little bit.”

Viney was also excited by the growth of several younger players who gained valuable exposure in 2025.

“Whilst the wins and losses didn’t go the way we wanted, there’s still so much experience gained this year that will really drive us forward,” he said.

“Seeing guys like Harvey (Langford), Xavier (Lindsay), Caleb (Windsor) and Kozzy (Pickett) continue to develop has been a real positive. They’re improving at a rapid rate, and they’ll be pushing for spots next season. I’ll be working hard to make sure I keep mine.”

And with a new head coach set to take the reins, Viney said there was genuine excitement about the next chapter.

“There’s a bit of an anxious wait now to see what the new coach brings, but I’m really excited for the change and to understand what they are all about.”

For Viney and the Demons, reflection and recovery will soon give way to the hard work of preparing for 2026 - with optimism front of mind.