JACK Viney will help his family achieve an outstanding milestone this round, when his 67^th AFL match will also be the 300^th father/son game, when taking into account father Todd’s 233 games for Melbourne from 1987-99.

Jack, who finished runner-up and one vote shy of Bernie Vince in last year’s best and fairest, said it was a statistic he was proud of – even though he wasn’t aware of it.

“It’s quite an interesting little stat there,” he told melbournefc.com.au.

“I’m sure Dad will get a bit of a buzz out of that when I tell him.

“It’s certainly pulls on a few heartstrings for myself as well. It’s all about family and to achieve a unique milestone like that – it does mean something to me.”

Todd, now the club’s manager of player personnel and an instrumental figure in the club’s recruitment in recent seasons, was a favourite of the club in the 1980s and 1990s.

He won two best and fairests with Melbourne in 1993 and 1998 and runner-up in 1991 and 1997. In 1998, he was named captain and All-Australian.

After retiring, he was named in Melbourne’s team of the century and sits 11^th on the club’s games tally.  

Interestingly, the Viney family won’t be the only ones to achieve this feat this round.

The Daniher family will also achieve triple figures this round, with Bomber Joe set to play his 67^th AFL game this round. When combined with his father’s Anthony’s 233 games for the Sydney Swans and Essendon, they too will hit the 300 father/son games.

The VFL/AFL record for the most father/son games is held by the Clokes.

David played 333 games for Richmond and Collingwood and with his eldest son Jason playing 76 games for Collingwood, followed by Cameron Cloke (58 games with Collingwood, Carlton and Port Adelaide), and Travis, who is set to play his 245^th game this round for the Magpies.

In terms of family combinations, when you add Todd’s brother Jay, who played 23 games for Melbourne in 1988 and 1990-91, the Vineys will notch up their 423^rd match this round.

In fact, this round, the Shaw family will move one game ahead of the Abletts for the most VFL/AFL games of any family combinations. At the moment, they are both on 970 games.

But with Heath Shaw set to play for the Giants this round and Gary Ablett jnr out injured, the Swans will move to 971.

For the record, the breakdown of games for the Shaws are: Ray (146 games), Tony (313), Neville (43), Rhyce (143) and Heath (231 – although he will play his 232^nd this round).

The Abletts are: Geoff (229), Kevin (38), Gary snr (248), Luke (133), Gary jnr (288) and Nathan (34).



Jack Viney and Todd Viney at Melbourne training, Gosch's Paddock on Thursday, in the lead-up to their 300th game as father/son combined. Jack will play his 67th AFL game; Todd played 233 for Melbourne. (Photo: Matt Burgan)