CHRISTMAS is just around the corner, but that’s no excuse for Jack Viney.
The Melbourne midfielder, who now has three weeks away from the club, has one focus for himself and his teammates this festive season.
“We really just want to maintain what we’ve done, so we’re ready to hit the ground running at the start of January,” Viney told Melbourne Media.
“We’ll definitely use the break to enjoy some family time, but we’ll be focused on keeping up our fitness and strength, so we can just jump straight back into it when we come back.”
Since kicking off their pre-season in mid-November, the playing group have taken their training to a new level, following structured programs under the guidance of Performance Manager Darren Burgess.
And with the first block of training now under their belts, Viney has been impressed with the group’s efforts to date.
“Everyone came back and jumped into it with plenty of enthusiasm and excitement,” he said.
“I feel like we’ve really attacked it, with good numbers on the track, and have got straight into some pretty intense football drills early on.
“We have had a bit of an increase load from previous pre-seasons but after the initial block of pulling up sore, it’s amazing what your body adapts to and what you’re able to tolerate.
“We’re going strong, so touch wood that our group stays pretty healthy and out of the track.”
The players now have a new program in place for the break, to ensure they’re maintaining their fitness either side of Christmas lunch.
But with 2020 fast approaching, the time off also gives players the chance to refresh and reset for a big season ahead – one Viney is not taking for granted.
“Any opportunity to spend time with our loved ones is awesome,” he said.
“Personally, we’re a pretty close-knit family, so we tend to make a reasonably big deal out of Christmas.
“I’ll spend one year with my family for Christmas, and then every second year I’ll spend it with my wife Charlotte’s family. This year, I’m with Charlotte’s family, but luckily enough, they’ve invited my family over too, so we’re all going to be together on Christmas Day.
“I think there’s 30 people for Christmas lunch, so it’s going to be a big day, but it’s just a great opportunity to spend time together.”
Melbourne will return to the club on January 10 to continue its training ahead of Round 1.