COACH Paul Roos has sent a clear message to his players, urging them to take charge of their own career.

In a passionate speech at Melbourne’s season launch at the MCG on Wednesday night, Roos said it was up to his players to take control of their football future.

“I hope the message is clear. Your careers are in your hands,” he said adamantly.

“What you will do, will be determined by you.

“We’ll help you – we’ve assembled a great coaching group, a great medical team and a great fitness group, but ultimately, it’s going to come back to how much you want it and how much you work for it.”

Roos stressed he wanted a team of competitors on the park each week – and he made special mention of suspended half-back/midfielder Jake Melksham being part of club’s group.   

“What I’ve been really proud of the boys in the first two weeks [of the NAB Challenge] … is that we’re always competing,” he said.

“That’s the promise we made to you guys at the end of last year and hopefully that’s the promise the players keep for the rest of the year.

Roos highlighted four players, who he had either played with or coached, that had made a significant impact on him during his career: Garry Wilson, Mick Conlan, Brett Kirk and Leo Barry.

He said Wilson, who was named vice-captain in Fitzroy’s team of the century and won five best and fairests with the Roys, showed him that hard work combined with talented created a brilliant footballer.  

“Garry Wilson was my first captain, when I turned up at Fitzroy. He was one of the most talented players when I arrived at Fitzroy,” he said.

“No doubt Garry Wilson was not only the most talented player, but the hardest working playing I’ve ever seen in my 30 years of football.

“In fact, he came back after two years out of the game as an assistant coach and was still beating players in the team with their running.”

Roos said he marveled at how Conlan, a powerful and explosive Fitzroy star, kept practicing his skills, particularly his ability to produce something out of nothing with his goalkicking feats.   

“Mick used to get to training before everyone else and he practiced [kicking] those goals,” he said.

“He practiced them before training and after training.

“We generally had an optional night on Wednesday and Mick would be down there on Wednesday, so there was no such thing as luck – it was all about practice and that’s what he taught me.”

Roos said former Sydney Swans skipper Kirk had showed him how a career could be turned around with pure determination and commitment.

“[Former Sydney Swans captain] Stuie [Maxfield] was one of his (Kirk’s) staunchest supporters, so we said ‘yep, we’ll give him an opportunity [as a run-with player],” he said.

“From that day forward, he was committed himself to being the best run-with player he possibly could be.

“He was 100 per cent committed to his craft and to being the best possible run-with player he could be … and he became one of the great Sydney players of all-time.”

Roos said Barry, a dual All-Australian, showed him how he was able to overcome obstacles and play as an undersized full-back.

“Tommy McDonald is [our full-back at] 196cm and 102kg and Leo Barry is 184cm and 88kg,” he said.

“He (Barry) played on Fraser Gehrig one day, when St Kilda was 10 wins and no losses, and Fraser Gehrig had kicked 50-odd goals [for the season],” he said.

“He kept Fraser Gehrig to two handballs – two handballs for the day! What I learned from Leo was that anything was possible, when you set your mind to it and you don’t have any excuses and you get it done.”

Reflecting on the night, Roos said it was his “31^st jumper presentation and my last”. 

“In one way, it’s exciting, but in another way, it’s quite sad,” he said.

“Throughout the course of 31 years, I’ve probably seen 1500 players get their jumpers.

“And the education that’s gone into the player group [this year] has by far exceeded anything I’ve seen in football in my time over the last 30-odd years.”

Meanwhile, Roos said it was “fantastic” to have women’s coach Michelle Cowan and women’s captain Daisy Pearce join the club.  

“It’s great to have Michelle [in the coaching department] and watch Daisy play on the weekend,” he said.

“Daisy brought her own football on the weekend [with 33 disposals] and she shared the football with a few other players.

“It’s a really exciting time for the girls and I’m really proud to be the senior coach, when we’re pioneering women’s football. I’m really looking forward to seeing you guys play this year and when the league starts next year. Well done for what you guys have done – it’s a very exciting time for women’s football.”