'Massive benefit' if Paul Roos stayed on at Melbourne: Viney
EXCLUSIVE: Jack Viney desperate for Paul Roos to commit beyond 2015
MELBOURNE midfielder Jack Viney has urged Paul Roos to continue as Demons coach beyond 2015.
Roos, whose contract runs until the end of next season, is yet to make a decision on whether or not he will exercise the option for a third year.
Viney believes Roos' commitment would be a giant coup for the Demons, particularly because the club was crying out for some continuity in the head coaching position.
The Demons have had five coaches in seven years – Dean Bailey (2008-2011), Todd Viney (2011), Mark Neeld (2012-2013), Neil Craig (2013) and Roos.
"I think it would be a massive benefit for the club if he signed on," Viney told AFL.com.au.
"He's shown this year that he's a fantastic coach.
"He's definitely taken the club in the right direction and for him to stay on would be huge for the club, and the players certainly have got a lot of confidence in Roosy."
After the Demons won only two games in 2013, Roos has led them to four wins so far in 2014. The improvement has been marked but there is still a long road ahead.
The club is set to begin its search for Roos' successor at the end of this season, with the premiership coach this week nominating Cameron Ling and Lenny Hayes as two names who would be of interest.
There was an outcry of support for Viney from past and present players and the broader football community, and the young Demon admitted he felt the full weight, and wait, of the week.
"I felt like I was living in two separate worlds that week," Viney said.
"It was a really weird week for me. It was a pretty stressful couple of days."
Viney admitted the build-up for the round eight clash with the Western Bulldogs affected him.
"I knew it would have some impact on my game. I tried to prepare as well as I could because I knew it was going to have an influence," Viney said.
"I didn't have the game I wanted to but I don't want to use that as an excuse to why I didn't perform."