Melbourne have been dealt a huge injury blow on the eve of the AFL season, with co-captain Jack Viney and forward Tom McDonald ruled out for up to two months.

Viney has been struggling with the ongoing effects of a plantar fascia injury in his right foot sustained in round 15 last season.

The 23-year-old had surgery and missed just two games but has since dealt with complications including a stress fracture in the same foot and ankle and toe niggles.

His latest setback is a major concern for the Demons considering it will have been almost a year since the initial injury by the time he is scheduled to return to senior football.

Both he and McDonald, who has a toe injury, will be managed in a bid to get them right for the second half of the season.

“Currently they’re still sore, so they’re having some time off legs and then we’ll reload them from there,” coach Simon Goodwin said on Thursday.

Clayton Oliver (knee) has been cleared to face Geelong on Sunday at the MCG and draftee Bayley Fritsch will make his AFL debut.