JACK Viney says learning different roles and being told to simply play his role this year was against his bull-at-the-gate style, but actually beneficial to his overall game.

Viney said his best football was still in the midfield and that’s where he wants to play the majority of his career. But he added that he gained the feedback to “learn the game, learn the craft and take it a bit easier”, which he conceded was difficult for him, but advantageous long-term.

“It was tough for me, but no doubt, it’s been beneficial and it’s going to hold me in really good stead for the future,” he told Dee TV.

“Whether it’s towards the very end of my career where I can’t run out in the midfield and I’ve got to play up forward, I [now] know the running patterns and I know how to still have an impact on the scoreboard.

“So I feel like everything I’ve learned this year, I feel like I’ll reap the rewards later in my career and throughout my career.”

Still, Viney said coach Paul Roos took the pressure off him in his second year, so he could continue his development. 

“There were no expectations for myself and the other young guys as well,” he said.

“I was really happy to learn new roles such as half-forward, wing and tagging a couple of times during the year as well. Last year, I played predominantly midfield and rotated off the bench.

“I was able to diversify my game and learn different areas, which definitely helped me game for the long run.”

Viney said the early part of his 2014 was frustrating, due to an interrupted pre-season. But he bounced back to play 20 matches and have a good second year.

“Once my body started to get more settled, I was able to do a bit more during the season and I was able to do extra sessions.”

“I felt like I played some good, consistent footy in the early to middle half of the year. Then I was just solid for the rest of the year.

“Overall, it wasn’t anything special … but I’m looking forward to the pre-season and having a good crack and being able to improve my game.”

In terms of his 2015 ambitions and beyond, Viney said he simply wants to “be the best leader and best player I can become”.

“I’ll just keep going about my business really,” he said.

“I haven’t set any objective goals – more so areas of my game that I feel needs to improve. I feel like if I can take care of those, then all of the other stuff will take care of itself.

“I’m looking forward to getting stuck into training and getting better.”