Updated July 22, 2026 — 4:31pm,first published 2:27pmIn today’s AFL Briefing, your wrap of footy news:A new, unheralded name has emerged in Essendon’s coaching hunt.Melbourne vice-captain Jack Viney has resumed training and is making a bid to play in the finals.A senior Adelaide figure has emerged as a shock candidate for the Essendon coaching role.Murray Davis, the Crows’ director of football and former long-time assistant coach with the Brisbane Lions, will meet with the Bombers as part of a round of introductory meetings.Once these coffee catch-ups are done, the Bombers will finalise their shortlist of candidates, expected to be completed by early August.Bombs away: The Crows poached Murray Davis from the Brisbane Lions to support coach Matthew Nicks.AFL PhotosCrows coach Matthew Nicks said on Wednesday that Davis had aspirations to be a senior coach, and was a fine candidate that Bombers’ president Andrew Welsh should consider.“It’s no surprise. I don’t want ‘Muz’ to go because he’s that good, but we’re very much about developing people. We’re constantly looking at how we can help them progress,” Nicks said.“Murray’s got an aspiration to head coach, and he’d be an amazing head coach. He’s done a fantastic job, and he should be considered.”Davis joined the Crows leading into the 2025 campaign, having had 13 seasons with the Lions in several roles. He was involved in development, and also coached the defenders for a decade, before switching to the forward line for the 2024 premiership season.Industry sources, preferring to speak anonymously, said Davis had excellent man-management skills, and explained the game in a simple manner for young players to understand.He has also been a senior coach in his own right, having led the Northern Territory Thunder to a NEAFL premiership in 2011.In the running: James Hird is currently director of coaching at Port Melbourne but has made no secret of his desire to once again coach the Bombers.Getty ImagesDavis was awarded the AFL Coaches Association Career and Education Award last year, having helped the Crows finish on top of the ladder. He finished just behind the Lions’ Cam Bruce as the assistant coach of the year.The Bombers are also due to speak with former player Mark McVeigh this week. McVeigh is an assistant coach with Sydney, and was the GWS caretaker coach after Leon Cameron’s departure.Club great James Hird has also declared his firm interest in the role and has met with Welsh.Caretaker coach Dean Solomon – a former teammate of both Hird and McVeigh – is yet to declare his hand, insisting his focus is only on finishing this season. But he said last week he expected to be asked soon by club chief executive Tim Roberts whether he wanted to officially apply. Solomon last week had his first win since replacing Brad Scott – the Bombers holding off the Giants at Marvel Stadium.The boost propelling a forgotten champion’s unlikely finals bidLast week, Melbourne coach Steven King almost ruled Jack Viney out for the season. On Wednesday, the premiership veteran was back training at Casey Fields in what could be a remarkable finals comeback for the injured champion.The 32-year-old Viney has not played since round 24 last year due to Achilles and lower back injuries. But King said the Demons vice captain had made progress, even though it was too early to put a timeline on any return, and there was now a chance for the heart-and-soul stalwart.Back on the track: Club great Jack Viney has returned to training.AFL Photos“He’s had a couple of sessions and got to a point where he’s recovered well,” King said of the 237-game champion.“Sometimes when you increase load your body either shuts down or actually responds well. He’s taken a couple of steps forward so maybe he might have just broken through that barrier where he can string a couple of sessions together. I think anything is a bonus for Jack.”King has taken on board advice from Geelong counterpart Chris Scott as the master and apprentice prepare to go head-to-head under the Friday night lights.The Demons return to the marquee timeslot for only the second time this season when they face the injury-hit Cats at the MCG.Embracing the moment: Melbourne coach Steven King is ready for the Friday night lights this week.AFL PhotosKing and skipper Max Gawn were quick to make a point last weekend of how big an occasion this was for the Demons, who were taken off Broadway this season as the AFL and broadcasters thought they were in a rebuilding year after parting with premiership stars Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver.Instead, the Demons have leapt to sixth on the ladder and are one of the more exciting teams to watch.King, a former Geelong captain, and assistant to Scott with the Cats through 2024-25, said the Demons were ready to embrace the Friday night focus.“We have been craving and playing a brand of footy that stacks up, that people will want to watch. So, to get this prime-time slot is great recognition for our playing group for what they have been doing throughout the year,” King said.“We want to make sure we do the occasion proud by playing a brand of footy that even neutrals watching will go: ‘That was entertaining, and a good game of footy’.”The Demons’ only appearance on either a Thursday or Friday night this season was in their annual Anzac Eve clash against Richmond.King said he had embraced the advice from Scott this week not to over-think playing against a club he has intimate knowledge of, although Scott questioned whether King had ever thought about facing a Cats unit missing injured stars Jeremy Cameron and Max Holmes.“Yeah, certainly I think you can give your players too much information. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. You go about what you can control and what you need to take care of as a team,” King said.“There are some things the way you plan to try and beat a team like Geelong but, if you outline every point and detail and position around what they are doing, you forget about yourself. I thought that was really sound advice from Chris, one that I’ll take on board.“If you look at all their strengths and weapons they have as a team, you have got to be careful what message you sell to your own players.”King said the Demons had embraced playing with speed and flair, but “there has been a bit of grit that has been building underneath”.“If you can’t put 100 points on the board now and fight with the big boys, you are down a weight class or two,” King said.Key defender Daniel Turner (cracked ribs) was a major loss, but the Demons had potential replacements, including Tom McDonald and Harrison Petty.Changkuoth Jiath, who hurt his calf against North Melbourne last weekend, is still a chance to play. Fellow half-back Christian Salem has continued to build fitness in the VFL after a foot fracture and is close to a senior return.Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.From our partners