PAUL Roos says how Melbourne’s players approach the off season break will be critical to club’s on-field fortunes in 2017.
In his final episode of Roos Views as senior coach, Roos said team standards, particularly amongst the younger players, would ultimately drive the success of the club.
“What I want to see from afar is what commitment these young guys put into their time off as that’s going to be really important,” he said.
“What Simon [Goodwin] sees in the first training session is going to dictate how far this club goes next year and how quickly we get to where we want to get to.
“There’s a whole group of players who are very, very talented but unless their work ethic matches their talent, then it will still be a fair while.
“I think that eight to ten week break [over the off season] is going to be really important for that young group as it’s what you do when you’re not here – what you do when the coaches aren’t watching you – that is going to determine the outcome of the footy club.”
Roos said it was vital that players view their football careers as a full-time job.
“The players and clubs that see themselves as 24-7, 12-months-a-year footballers have an enormous opportunity because believe me, there are plenty out there that don’t and there are plenty out there that see themselves as part-time players,” he said.
“I’m not necessarily talking about our footy club; I’m talking about all footy clubs.”
With one game remaining as senior coach, Roos said he was only just starting to reflect on the journey over the past three years.
“One of the things I’ve thought about in the last week or so is, ‘what were the goals?’”
“When I look back on what Peter [Jackson], Glen [Bartlett], Josh [Mahoney] and I set out to do, we have pretty much ticked every box in relation to that.
“The first press conference [when I arrived at the club] was around setting the club up for the next three years and leaving the footy club in a position where they can push for finals.
“Now when that will happen, we’re not sure but I think that the position we’re in now, we can push for finals which we did this year.”
Roos said he had nothing but praise his successor Simon Goodwin and the football department he is leaving behind.
“Goody [Simon Goodwin] is going to be an unbelievable coach and the quality of people he’ll have around him is outstanding.
“The club is in fantastic shape and I’m looking forward to coming and watching the game in the grandstand and seeing the success that’s going to follow.”
