COACH Paul Roos says while new innovations are always being implemented in the game, he adds that most things remain the same.

Speaking at Melbourne’s season launch at the MCG on Monday night, Roos said as another AFL home and away season approaches, it’s important to remember the basics that dictate success.

“I’m going to guarantee that the teams that are successful will be well coached and they’re going to have a [good] game plan,” he told the crowd of 500 people.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing Fremantle on a windy afternoon or at Etihad [Stadium] under a closed roof or the MCG on Grand Final – they’re going to be successful.

“The hardest teams generally win – the teams that are toughest and the teams that win contested footy. If they can’t win the ball, then they tackle and stop the opposition from winning the ball.

“They work harder … and above all, it is about the team. It’s not about the individual. The teams that finish first to 18^th are in the order of how they perform – coaching, leadership, training standards, work ethic and team.”

Roos said Fitzroy greats such as Garry Wilson, Bernie Quinlan, Micky Conlan and Laurie Serafin were pivotal in his early development and leadership when he joined the Roys in his playing days. He added that based on his experiences, the Melbourne leaders shouldn’t underestimate the impact they can have on the group.

“[The Melbourne players are] going to have leaders and role models that drive the success of the group. [The leaders are] going to drive the standards and the behaviours,” he said.

“What we’ve seen already in three games [this year] is that we have the capability to be a very good football team, but we’re also a team that if we don’t do those fundamental things in football – we can still be a poor football team.

“The great thing about the club at this particular stage is that it’s very much in the hands of the 22 players who run out every single week.”