YOUNG-gun Jack Viney has signed a contract extension and will remain with Melbourne until at least the end of 2017.

Viney, who was contracted until the end of 2015, said he was rapt to add an extra two years.  

“It’s good to get the extension done. I had one year left and the club came to me at the end of the year and said ‘we’d like to sign you on for a bit longer’. I was more than happy to work something out,” he told Dee TV.

“I’m really happy with the direction of the club at the moment and to get Simon Goodwin on board as the successor of Roosy – I think it’s a really good time to be at the club and I think we’re going to be playing some pretty successful footy in future years.

“The security of having three years is really, really good and it just gives you a peace of mind of where you’re going to be playing your footy at.”

The 20-year-old, who has played 33 AFL matches, including 20 in 2014, is one of the club’s most important players long-term.

A tough, tenacious midfielder, Viney was secured by Melbourne via the father-son rule and was selected at No.26 in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft.

Viney made his AFL debut in round one, 2013 against Port Adelaide and also received a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination in his first year.

He is the son of Melbourne great and manager of player personnel Todd, who played 233 matches for the club from 1987-99. Jack said he was proud to continue the Viney name at Melbourne.

“I’ve got family ties at the club and I’m really happy with the direction that the footy club is going,” he said.

“I really do believe we’ll be playing some successful footy in the future and I really want to be a part of that.”

Viney said he was rapt to have Adelaide great and former Essendon assistant Simon Goodwin join Melbourne as Paul Roos’ successor.

“My old man, when he was at Adelaide, worked with Simon Goodwin a bit and we’ve had Goody over for dinner a few times [before he got] the coaching role [at Melbourne],” he said.

“I know him quite well and I know he’s going to be a terrific coach and a terrific assistant coach under Roosy.

“I was really happy when that happened and I was more than happy to jump on board and just get involved in the club and be a part of what’s coming.”

Viney, who has just returned from a holiday in Vietnam, has since got back into some aerobic training and is eager to start pre-season.

“I had 12 days over in Vietnam and I got to see a bit of it. I went from the south to north and I had a good break and came back refreshed and I’m back into training now, which is fun,” he said.

“I’m really, really looking forward to the pre-season. Last year, it was a bit interrupted with a few niggles and concussions.

“I’m really, really looking forward to getting out there and hopefully having a really strong pre-season and seeing what I can produce in the 2015 season.”