Roos backs Demon Viney’s aggression in AFL

Melbourne coach Paul Roos won’t ask Jack Viney to curb his aggression despite the combative onballer’s one-match AFL ban for striking.

Roos agreed Viney crossed the line when he struck Port Adelaide’s Brad Ebert three times in an ugly incident late in the Demons’ loss to Port in Alice Springs.

But Viney, who will miss up to a month of football after undergoing surgery on a broken knuckle, has enough credits with his coach to avoid a reprimand.

“It’s something I think every coach is mindful of … you want your team to be physical and you want them to stand up for their teammates but you don’t want them to get suspended,” Roos said.

“I don’t know if it’s in Jack’s favour that he’s got a broken knuckle and he wouldn’t have played anyway … maybe it gives him a little bit of (leeway).

“And the fact that he’s such a good young kid … you take all of those things into consideration and it’s not a pattern for him either.

“If it becomes a pattern, then you tend to sit down and have a chat to him. He would know that. He’s disappointed with himself and he shouldn’t have done it. So, if that’s the case, you tend to leave them alone but, when it becomes a pattern, that’s when as a coach you tend to step in.”

Viney and Colin Garland (cheekbone) depart the side through injury but Roos appears set to make further changes to his line-up for Saturday’s clash with Hawthorn at the MCG.

Luckless midfielder Jack Trengove is in the selection mix after two years on the outer, with Chris Dawes, Lynden Dunn and young gun Clayton Oliver also in contention.

“I haven’t spoken to the doctor specifically about (Oliver) but I think it was always going to be a minor issue,” Roos said of the rising star nominee who didn’t play against the Power.

“It was a corked leg with a six-day break and a flight to Alice Springs, so there were a lot of things that contributed to him not playing.

“I’d expect he’d be right to play this week.”

Heritier Lumumba isn’t in line for selection but the veteran defender is making good progress in his recovery from the concussion he suffered in round six.

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