THE Viney name has made its way into Melbourne’s AFLW program, but not in the fashion you may have initially thought.

While Todd and Jack Viney have both made a name for themselves on-field for the Dees, it’s Max Viney who is making an AFLW impact in 2024.

Max has joined the AFLW program as the Tackling and Grappling Coach for this season having spent years working alongside individual AFL and AFLW players.  

“My background's in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which is a wrestling and grappling based martial arts,” Max said.

“Over the past few years, I've been working with AFL and AFLW players to help with things like laying tackles, finishing tackles and breaking tackles.”

Growing up in a football family, Max left the AFL side of things to Jack, instead focusing on his love of martial arts and combat sports.

But funnily enough, Max soon realised that there was plenty of similarities between the two.

He began to shift his focus back into footy, only this time using his existing martial art skills to help train Jack and other players interested in developing their craft.

“I basically grew up in martial arts, I think Jack and I have always been wrestling and fighting since a young age, so we were never kind of shy when it came to physical contact,” Max said.

“Some of the similarities that jiu jitsu, wrestling and grappling shares with AFL are things around how to hold on to someone when you tackle, how are you grabbing someone? How are you locking onto them?

“Then from there, what are some of the tricks or techniques that we can use to actually take them to the ground or off balance them or disrupt their ability to potentially hand pass the ball or kick it?

“If we can make them uncomfortable while they've got the footy, then hopefully we can increase things like turnovers, holding the balls and we win it back through our defensive pressure.”

Leader of the team Kate Hore said the addition of Max had created an exciting new layer to their week of training.

“Max has been awesome,” Hore said.

“[We’re] working on our tackling and contest work both offensively and defensively.

“Tackling is such an important part of the game, and we want to make it really safe as well.

“He's been a huge addition to our program."

Paxy Paxman, who's been in the AFLW system for nearly nine years now, said she was loving developing important skills for the season ahead.

“It's been fun. It's been different. I think we're all enjoying it. And he's just a lovely guy and a good teacher,” Paxman said.

“So, it's cool seeing us work inside on the mats and then come out onto the ground and implement the things that he's been teaching us.”