For Paul Roos, the answer to Melbourne’s rise to the cusp of AFL glory lies not in the moments of brilliance on centre stage, but the acts of selflessness that keep the show rolling.
Max Gawn’s ruck heroics, Christian Petracca’s explosive dare and Clayton Oliver’s knack of willing a slippery Sherrin into his hands and then out of traffic, have all captivated the Melbourne faithful this September.
But instead of simply relishing the star-studded centre square, Roos, who coached the Demons from 2014 to 2016, casts his eye over to the wing for a different perspective on Melbourne’s prowess.
There stands Angus Brayshaw, who claimed third place in the Brownlow Medal count as a midfielder in 2018 but this season has embraced his less-preferred role out wide.
It’s a selfless attitude reflected throughout Melbourne’s team – from its stingy defence to its frenetic attack.
“Angus Brayshaw typifies them – just embracing the role and being prepared to play a role and (be) really disciplined in that role,” Roos told AAP.
“That’s been a trademark of the team this year is everyone’s been prepared to play a role within the team.
“When you look at premiership teams, that’s certainly a benchmark of all premiership teams – every player makes a decision at some point that they’re going to sacrifice for their teammates.
“It was the same at the Sydney Swans. I’m sure Geelong could tell the same stories, the Richmond boys could and the Bulldogs in 2016.
“There’s talent and there’s game plan and then there’s decisions that have to be made by players to say ‘yeah I’m really committed to my teammate’.
“That’s the biggest thing at Melbourne this year.”
It’s a tick over eight years since the then-embattled Demons broke the emergency glass and asked Roos to help haul them out of the doldrums.
Then-chief executive Peter Jackson and ex-chairman Glen Bartlett charged Roos with laying the foundations of defence and a strong culture before handing the team over to Simon Goodwin.
“We knew that we had a lot of work to do,” Roos said.
“The biggest things were to set some really clear standards and behaviours over that three-year period.
“To give the players a really good understanding of what AFL football is like and how hard it is and how hard you have to work.
“The want and the desire of the footy club was already there and we just had to build over a period of time.”
Roos handed over the reins to Goodwin at the end of 2016 and watched on with delight as the Demons charged through the finals two years later.
That promise turned to dismay at their 2018 preliminary final thumping and 17th-placed finish in 2019.
But this season feels different.
The 2005 premiership coach notes the closeness of Goodwin, his coaching staff and his charges and believes they’re more “ready”, both physically and mentally, to perform on football’s biggest stage now.
“We did see it (the potential) in 2018 – and then the club was struck down with a lot of injuries – that’s the hardest thing,” he said.
“It just shows (progress is) not necessarily linear. It’s (their run to the grand final) not surprising at all.
“If they play like they did on Friday night, they absolutely give themselves a chance to win – 100 per cent.”
So what would a Demons breakthrough, their first since 1964, mean to Roos?
“I texted Peter Jackson back and forwards and he reminded me of a comment I made at my last best and fairest,” he said.
“I said it’d be great to see Goody and Nathan Jones hold the premiership cup up.
“Now it’s not going to happen with Nathan but it’s incredibly exciting, not only for players and current coaches and staff.
“One thing I realised out of winning at Sydney is how much it means to everyone – the people that I know that are Melbourne people now that have been lifelong friends from my association at Melbourne, the supporters and the fans.
“I don’t think there’s anyone in that period of time (at Melbourne) – I was there for three years – that wouldn’t be doing cartwheels if the team won a premiership.”
AAP
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