Jack Viney will make his long-awaited return from injury in Melbourne’s wildcard clash with Carlton, having missed the entire campaign to date.

Finally fit after persistent back and achilles issues throughout 2026, Viney pressed his case with a decent return through the VFL.

Viney had 20 touches, seven tackles and kicked 1.2 in limited minutes against Box Hill, but was still seen as an outside chance to earn a recall.

Melbourne’s new-look midfield under Steven King has thrived with Jack Steele filling Viney’s role as the inside grunt, but the pair of former captains will pair up in the engine room.

The Demons’ defence will be without Jake Lever but Daniel Turner has been named despite a knee complaint last week.

Matt Jefferson’s injury and Jacob van Rooyen’s suspension means the forward line will be a small-ball structure – revolving around Bayley Fritsch and Jake Melksham, with the ability to swing Harrison Petty or Tom McDonald forward.

Christian Salem has been omitted from the 23, with first-year Demon Xavier Taylor being recalled into the senior side.

Taylor’s addition as a taller defender further opens the door for Petty or McDonald to swing forward.

Carlton has opted to make just one change, dropping Wade Derksen in favour of Nick Haynes.

Derksen has been a constant under new coach Josh Fraser this season, earning a recall in round 13 and not missing for the rest of the home-and-away season.

‘FELL OFF MY CHAIR’: BEVO LIVID OVER PIES’ TRAINING SESSION AT MARVEL

– Tyler Lewis

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said he “almost fell off my chair” when Collingwood was granted access to train at Marvel Stadium this week.

Collingwood has had issues with its ground at Olympic Park, using university and school facilities at various stages thisyear after heavy rainfall.

Western Bulldogs, as well as previous Marvel Stadium tenants, have frequently had their requests for a main training session at the venue denied.

Beveridge found Collingwood winning approval to train at Docklands ahead of the home clubs “hilarious”.

“What do I think of the Pies training at Marvel? Well, if you didn’t laugh, you’d cry,” Beveridge said with a laugh.

“I just think it’s hilarious, you know, it’s a crack up really.

“None of the tenant clubs can get on it, I think we’ve been offered a captain’s run in runners at some point. We’re not driving down to do that.

“When we heard about it, I almost fell off my chair. It was just hilarious. Anyway.”

Beveridge admitted the Bulldogs did not request to train this week and conceded the end-of-season reduction in foot traffic might have persuaded the AFL.

“Every year we’re looking for opportunities to train there and we knew, you understand it, there’s a lot of traffic on that ground,” he said.

“But in principle if the tenant clubs can’t train on it, I just think it’s hilarious.

“We didn’t ask to train on it this week, so we weren’t told no this week. I can’t say we were knocked back.

“Obviously now the season, proper, before the finals series there’s going to be less traffic on it.

“It’s an easy case to make, we didn’t make it but obviously the Pies did. They made a good case and got on it.”

Beveridge could not be drawn into further comment about Western Bulldogs hosting Collingwood in a home final at MCG on Frdiaynight.

DOGS HANDED BIG BOOST AHEAD OF WILDCARD CLASH

– Tyler Lewis

Western Bulldogs stars Aaron Naughton and Tim English are set tackle Collingwood in Friday night’s blockbuster final.

English has not played since round 22 after suffering a knee injury, while Naughton has overcome an ankle flare-up from last week.

Coach Luke Beveridge said the Bulldogs would manage English’s minutes but hoped he could spend 70 per cent of the game on the field.

“Pretty good, they trained yesterday and look like they’re going to come up,” Beveridge said

“It’s important because we’re down on the big men, so if one of them couldn’t play then we need to be a bit inventive like we were last week.

“I thought Ryan Gardner did a really good job in the role he played, even though it was for a reduced minute, so that was fantastic for the team.

“Based on who is available and who we’re coming up against, Collingwood aren’t a super tall team anyway, so it’s not a huge issue.

“But definitely that ruck challenge remains every week … (Tim) has had a little bit of time off, so you’d have to say he’d be a fraction compromised.

“We’ll work through his game time with him, but hopefully he can play at least 70 per cent of the game if he makes it to the line, which it looks like he will.”

The boost to the Bulldogs’ ruck stocks comes as Beveridge says he is “pretty secure” in English staying at the club next year despite interest from GWS.

“We haven’t seen or heard anything internally that gives it any credence,” Beveridge said.

“I think he will (see out his contract), he’s not intimating that he’s unhappy. He’s been a tremendous servant for a long period of time.

“We’re pretty secure in the knowledge that Tim’s going to be here for a fair bit longer.”

English’s partner Rudi Ellis recently signed with NSW Swifts in the Super Netball, accelerating speculation he could move interstate at season’s end.

“It’s probably not a time to be dealing in hypotheticals … I’d rather not speculate,” Beveridge said.

“I think all the silly season stuff, we’re not trying to be involved in it, (we will) play as long as we can and then we’ll be under more pressure to answer some of those questions.

“But right now I’d like to focus on the game.”