COACH Paul Roos says the make-up of Melbourne’s round one team is the most difficult he’s had to select since he joined the club.

Speaking on the first edition of Roos’ Views for 2015, the premiership coach said it was tough coming up with the red and blue’s first 22 for the year.

“It’s certainly been the hardest team to pick since I’ve been here – there’s no question about that,” he said.

“What we’ve tried to do is set some real standards for all of the players and for the first time I think there is going to be some guys who are in form who aren’t playing.

“I think that’s a significant step forward for the football club, where probably in the past [some] guys have got a game, based on not being as out of form as what some other guys are.

“There are going to be some disappointed players that have been playing some pretty good footy through the NAB Challenge and at Casey, so it’s a pretty good position for us to be in as a club, but frustrating for them as players.”

Roos said key forward Jesse Hogan and boom recruit Heritier Lumumba – whose first match for Melbourne will be his 200^th AFL game – were ready to go against the Suns at the MCG on Saturday.

“I spoke at the media [conference on Monday] and someone asked me about Jesse and got me on the hop [and asked me if he was going to play]. [I confirmed it, but I hadn’t spoken to him directly,” he said.

“It was a little bit of a different case, so I rang him that night and said ‘I normally like to tell the players before everyone else knows [including] the media’. But he understood and he knows he’s in a bit of a different position than maybe a normal first gamer.

“It’s exciting for him – he’s been consistent. If he just plays his role and works hard like he did in the three [NAB Challenge] games that he’s played – that’s what we’re expecting of him.

“[Lumumba’s] been a great role model for the young players and also played some fantastic footy, so it’s great for him to play his 200^th. He’s been a really durable player for Collingwood and we hope that continues for us.”

Roos said he had also seen Nathan Jones, who will lead the club solely for the first time this year, grow into the role.

“I’ve noticed a huge change with Nathan,” he said.

“[He had] the excitement of being captain in his first year and not really knowing how to do it or what to do, but he had a partner in crime [last year] with Grimesy (Jack Grimes) and he got to share the load.

“But I think the fact that he’s been sole captain and he’s in his second year – he’s been a lot more vocal at training and terrific with the coaches and players.

“He’s really driving the group and it’s been a significant shift for him, as you’d hope in year two and he’s really stepped up his captaincy and his leadership.

“He’ll have another good year because he’s such a professional player and such a consistent player.”

Meanwhile, Roos said he was looking forward to coming up against his former coach and mentor, Rodney Eade, who will coach Gold Coast for the first time this weekend.

“It’s great that he’s back in footy and he’s got a lot to offer as a coach. He’s got a lot to offer and ‘Rocket’ did particularly well with the Swans,” he said.