Melbourne coach Steven King is weighing the balance between winning chemistry and the value of Jack Viney after the vice-captain returned through the VFL unscathed.

Viney played his first match of the season last weekend, recording 20 disposals, 10 clearances, seven clearances and a goal for Casey Demons.

The hard-nosed midfielder had previously endured a wretched run of Achilles and back injuries.

King admits there’s an urge to rush Viney back in to face Western Bulldogs this Saturday, but says the Demons must make sure he’s “really ready”.

“I mean it’s his first game of the year, so first and foremost it’s great to see him out there,” King said.

“Then we have to weigh up how he pulled up, there’s a lot of factors to go into it, obviously team balance – we’ve won six of our last seven.

“But, I mean, when you get Jack Viney available it’s only a good thing so I want to make sure I do the right thing by the team, the club but more so Jack as well.

“We want to make sure when he comes in, he’s really ready, is that this week? We will wait and see.”

Melbourne could finish as high as the top four or as low as the wildcard round depending on the outcome of this weekend.

The Demons will have the ascendancy in the ruck with Max Gawn going up against a Bulldogs brigade without Tim English.

King says Melbourne is challenging for the flag off the back of Gawn’s season and is calling for the star ruckman to be named as captain in a record ninth All Australian team.

“It’s amazing what he’s done for our club (and) his standing in the game,” King said of Gawn.

“If he got that nod to be nine-time, I think it’s incredibly, really. To be captain of our club for a long time now, he’s broken the wins record as captain of our club.

“It would be a nice thing for him to get that nod, for me, I’m biased but I think he’s worthy of an All Australian captaincy, to be honest, with what he’s done and how he’s carried this team this year.

“To be sitting where we are is off the back of his work which is extraordinary for a 34-year-old to be doing what he’s doing – it’s a privilege to coach him.”

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