COACH Paul Roos has lauded the form of midfielder Bernie Vince, as he continues to push his claims for All-Australian selection.
Melbourne hasn’t had an All-Australian since former Demon James Frawley and ruckman Mark Jamar were named in the 2010 team. Former skipper and now Carlton assistant coach Brad Green was also named in the initial squad that year.
Aside from Jamar, former Magpie Heritier Lumumba is the only other All-Australian on Melbourne’s 2015 list, when he claimed the honour with Collingwood in 2010. Daniel Cross was an All-Australian nominee in 2008, when he was at the Bulldogs.
But Roos said Vince hadn’t put a foot wrong all season.
“We don’t see all of the games and all of the players, but we watch a lot of football,” he said on Roos’ Views.
“What he’s been able to do over the last 15 weeks has been very good. He’s had some great roles and done them really well.
“He’s played on [Scott] Pendlebury twice now and done really good roles on him and [Patrick] Dangerfield and guys of that ability, so he’s playing on high quality players and beating them and playing good footy.”
Another top AFL honour, where Melbourne is right in the picture, is the NAB AFL Rising Star. Outstanding young duo Jesse Hogan and Angus Brayshaw are leading contenders, with the key forward appearing to have the edge among the wider football public. But Roos was equally pleased with both players so far in 2015.
“I don’t see every other kid play, but what those two boys have done – we’re really happy with,” he said.
“For a young key position player to do what Jesse’s done, in terms of contested marks and goals, is a very, very good effort.
“Angus’ main position is midfield, but he hasn’t played as much in there, so for him to play in a foreign position, mainly half-forward – although we’ve tried to get him in the midfield as often as we can – [has been impressive]. But both of those boys have had really good seasons.”
Meanwhile, Roos said he was pleased the AFL industry came together to support Sydney Swans superstar Adam Goodes in round 18, after a much-publicised week.
“I thought it was well handled by everyone in the AFL industry and it’s great to feel that Adam feels welcomed back [this week],” he said.
“Listening to [Sydney Swans coach] John Longmire talk – it’s a great sign of respect that everyone within the industry showed Adam. [It also] showed that it was perhaps a minority [of people] who think the way they think.
“The majority of people are unbelievably supportive and unbelievably appreciative of what he’s done for football and are looking forward to getting him back playing.”
