PAUL Roos says that it is important to reflect on Melbourne’s improvement this year now that the season has drawn to a close.
Speaking at the Keith ‘Bluey’ Truscott Memorial dinner, Roos highlighted the advances Melbourne has made over the past two seasons.
“Despite all of the noise you hear from outside, there’s no doubt that there’s been significant improvement to win seven games and 77 per cent. Two years ago, it was two wins and 54 per cent," he said.
Roos credited some of the progress to the rejuvenated relationship between Melbourne and its VFL affiliate, the Casey Scorpions.
He said that Casey’s run to the VFL finals this season was “another siginifcant step for us” and praised both the work of coach, Justin Plapp, and the “fantastic attitude” of the Melbourne players who played with the Scorpions this season.
“The job that Plappy has done to drive that connection and spirit between the two clubs; its chalk and cheese to what it was last year and again, it’s another indication of how far we’ve come as a football club," he said.
Looking back on the season, Roos cited Melbourne’s final round win over Greater Western Sydney as a critical victory for the Club.
“I think it was really important last Sunday to finish off with a win," he said.
“I remember driving to the game and I didn’t say anything to (wife) Tami or my sons but I felt like the season hinged on one game. I shouldn’t have said that but now that we’ve won, I can say it did.
“It was that important to the footy club.”