COACH Paul Roos says the club has become “less patient now” when selecting its best 22 each week.    

Speaking at AAMI Park on Friday, in the lead-up to Sunday’s clash against North Melbourne in Hobart, Roos said Melbourne had enough players pushing for selection at the moment that needed to be rewarded.

“Perhaps before, one bad performance wasn’t enough to get you out of the team, so we’ve made some changes – and we think some significant changes, based on our seconds playing well and our seniors not going so well,” he said.

“I think the margin for error is far less than what it has been and I think the players understand that.

“We’ll continue to make changes, educate and try to pick the right team every week.”

Roos said defender Colin Garland – who is Melbourne’s only Tasmanian player on its 2016 list – understood why he was left out of the side. Fellow defender Lynden Dunn has come back in to replace Garland.

“Col was terrific when I spoke to him about it yesterday (Thursday). He understands that last week was unacceptable and probably his form has started to dip,” Roos said. 

“Often you’re juggling with – do you keep them going at seniors or do you send them back?

“Col was terrific [about it] and I think he needs to go back [to Casey] to find a bit of confidence. We see him as a really important player, as he has been for a number of years. Him going back and finding some form is really important for us.”

For the record, Garland hasn’t played in the VFL since round 12, 2011 when he returned from an ankle injury, after being sidelined for three matches. But the most recent time he was left out of the side was pushing 10 years ago – round four, 2008.

In regards to Brayshaw, Roos said the second-year player was omitted for different reasons to Garland.  

“Angus, we played too early [last round, after he came back from injury],” he said.

“Do you give him another run? No, his performance was unacceptable, largely through us, as a coaching group.

“So let’s get him back [to Casey], because we know he’s an important player, but he still needs to be educated on what an acceptable game is and what an unacceptable game is.

“There are probably going to be one or two more changes before we turn up on Sunday.”

Roos said this week’s clash against North Melbourne was going to be a test for his group, as he believes the Kangas are “a top four or definitely top eight team”.

“We know it’s going to be tough, but I’m confident if we bring our best footy, it’s going to be really, really good,” he said.

“For our team it’s a terrific challenge and if we can’t match them in [contested work], we’re no chance to win.

“For our guys, we’ll really simplify it back to that phase of the contest.”

Reflecting on last round, Roos said Melbourne’s 13-point loss to Essendon at the MCG was not “unique to us”.

“Every team that didn’t come to play really hard, tough footy got beaten [last weekend] – it was a tough round for the tipsters – that’s for sure,” he said.

“We’ve got 10 players under 50 games or thereabouts, so we’re more educational based and we’ve got to give them solutions. I think with more experienced teams, like I suspect Scotty (Chris Scott) down at Geelong, is talking differently to his team than I am to my team.”

“Ultimately, footy can be a pretty simple game and if you don’t get numbers to the contest, be really hard and make your tackles, then your game can fall apart pretty quickly.”

Overall, Roos said Melbourne was in no position to take any game lightly.

“We know our best football is really, really good, but we know we haven’t got much margin for error. The players understand that and that’s the main thing we’ve got to reinforce,” he said.

“We’ve got to come every week and play really hard footy every single week of the year.

“Hawthorn can perhaps have a bit more margin for error – and maybe some of the top teams – but what we’re trying to do is educate [our players].”