.Neeld, now game performance manager at Essendon,

.Neeld, now game performance manager at Essendon,

30.09.2019 16:06

NORMAN, Okla. -- A wacky weekend in college football renewed Oklahomas seemingly dormant playoff hopes.Oklahoma has rallied from a rough start to the season, and losses by Clemson, Michigan, Washington, Texas A&M and Auburn last Saturday opened up the field for the Sooners to possibly claim one of the four spots in the College Football Playoff if they keep winning. The eighth-ranked Sooners (8-2, 7-0 Big 12) will travel to No. 10 West Virginia (8-1, 5-1) Saturday night with a chance to claim a share of the Big 12 title and remain alive for a second straight playoff berth.Were not looking into that, Oklahoma linebacker Jordan Evans said of the playoff. We see it. Some guys in the back of their mind, maybe. But it doesnt matter if we dont handle our business.Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said he doesnt worry too much about other results, though he enjoyed Iowas 14-13 win over Michigan. He played at Iowa and later became an assistant coach there.Im rooting for the Hawkeyes, Stoops said. Absolutely. A big congrats to them. Outside of that, Im not sitting there with my pompoms out.Oklahoma seemingly had no path back to the playoff, but since their early losses to Houston and Ohio State, they have won seven straight. In Big 12 play, the Sooners are averaging 48 points and 591.1 yards per game, both tops in the league.I think we have a ton of guys that were real with themselves, a coaching staff that was real with themselves, offensive tackle Orlando Brown said. Weve all taken it upon ourselves individually, as a group, as a team, as a university, to see what we had to get better at. What we were doing bad, what we were doing good -- we took them and we went from there.The Sooners beat then-No. 25 Baylor 45-24 last Saturday , and West Virginia and Oklahoma State, Oklahomas final two opponents, provide opportunities for quality wins late in the season.All that matters is what weve been doing each and every week, Stoops said. Well be our best Saturday night. Eight Eastern, seven Central, and well be ready to play our best game. Next week will be a different week.Even after the Sooners started winning, a playoff slot wasnt even a thought after the Sooners gave up 854 yards in a 66-59 win over Texas Tech .Only reason I think it (Texas Tech game) was good is we were still able to come out with a win in that game, Evans said. Weve kind of flipped our defense around. It was a good wakeup call for us.Since then, Oklahoma has allowed 51 points combined in wins over Kansas, Iowa State and Baylor. The Sooners have risen to No. 3 in the Big 12 in scoring defense and total defense, No. 2 in pass efficiency defense and No. 1 in rushing defense.It has been a complete U-turn from that game, Evans said. Our intensity, our effort -- guys are making more plays. The number one thing is guys are having more fun doing it. 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Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. In the bowels of the AAMI Park gymnasium, Melbournes Jack Viney attacks his weights with the same vigor he hunts down opponents on the field.The explosive midfielder -- who is pound for pound definitely the best lifter at the Demons, according to the clubs strength and conditioning manager Robert Jackson -- takes the same approach to every gym session as he does on game day.Its just the way he is.Viney has played a pivotal role in the Demons resurgence in Paul Roos final year as coach. In many ways, the 22-year-old personifies his clubs rise up the ladder this season.Taken at the bargain selection of pick No.26 in the 2012 national draft, Viney has this year transformed himself from hard trier to one of the premium midfielders in the competition. League-wide, hes ranked 13th in contested possessions per game, eighth in tackles, and 13th in clearances per match.He was at his ferocious best in Melbournes drought-breaking win against Hawthorn in Round 20, collecting 39 touches (16 contested) at 82 percent efficiency, eight tackles, seven clearances and five marks. Aside from his statistics, his physical intent set the tone as Melbourne beat Hawthorn for the first time since Round 8, 2006.A career-high 16 tackles against the Western Bulldogs in Round 8 was another highlight, along with the 23 contested possessions -- another career-high -- racked up in Round 5 against Richmond.In fact, if it were not for a brainfade in Round 10 that saw him cop a one-week suspension, Viney could be a Brownlow Medal chance as season 2016 draws to a close -- which highlights his incredible improvement.Aside from his natural footballing ability, Vineys work ethic at Melbourne is legendary.When hes down in the gym, hes there to beat anyone, Jackson tells ESPN. He competes with everyone and even himself. Hes very aggressive in the way he attacks his weights, attacks his training and is always looking at a way to get an improvement.The other thing he does which is quite unique is hes always researching what other people do and trying to mimic professional approaches. He does his research, he comes with questions and I couldnt ask for more to be honest.Those who know Viney often shake their head in admiration at the son of former club great Todds absolute commitment to improve.Whenever Viney fearlessly burrows into packs, often emerging with a hard-won Sherrin, or locks his arms around an opponent in a vice-like tackle, those behind the scenes nod knowingly.Melbourne veteran Lynden Dunn, for one, isnt surprised by his elevation into the top bracket of the AFLs best inside midfielders.Hes grown up loving the club - Todd, his old man captained the club, so he [Jack] has always being around the place and the players, the defender told ESPN. He is ultra-competitive, he allways means business, hes courageous, tough, hard.ddddddddddddHe can come across a little bit arrogant to some people but knowing him now, hes just very confident in his preparation and performances on game day.Ive got no doubt hell be All Australian and a multiple best and fairest winner by the end of his career. Its not luck - he takes ownership of his career and works so hard.Before being drafted, Viney spent time at Melbourne as a 17-year old in 2012, receiving permission to train with the club and play for its VFL affiliate Casey. Mark Neeld was the Demons coach that year, and in 2013 before being sacked midway through the season.Neeld, now game performance manager at Essendon, said he knew from an early stage that Viney would become a star midfielder.Hes a beauty. He comes from really strong family, and the things I saw with Jack as a young player - his work ethic and determination - are the things everyone is seeing on the footy field now, Neeld told ESPN.He was always in a hurry, Jack, but hes everything you want in a player in terms of determination, work ethic, leadership, the want to get better ... hes got it.Im not surprised hes become one of the premier midfielders in the competition.Jackson is also unsurprised at the midfielders rise. The strength and conditioning boss has regularly been wowed by Vineys intensity in the gym.Jacks very aggressive in his pursuit of becoming excellent, he said.If you look back to his early years before he was even playing TAC Cup, he was already going to see a sprint coach at the Hawthorn Football Club who is now the high performance manager at Richmond, Peter Burge. He was always trying to find an edge.Hes an intimidating person. Hes very strong, hes very powerful, hes very aggressive on the field ... and down in the gym he demands that of other people - he demands people put in effort and if someones lifting and he thinks they could possibly put more on or they could have done another rep, then hell have no shame in voicing that.In terms of leadership in the gym, I think just through his own actions and the way he approaches gym sessions, [he] is a real benchmark for others.Dunn said it wasnt just in the gym that Vineys leadership qualities were evident, with the defender confident the emerging tyro would eventually take the captaincy from Nathan Jones.Theres plenty of good young leaders coming through [at Melbourne] but Jack would definitely be a candidate for the captaincy, Dunn said.Nathan Jones is doing a super job at the moment and has plenty of good footy left in him but when the time comes to hand it over, Im sure Jack will be one of the strongest candidates. ' ' '


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