COACH Paul Roos says the good work achieved by Melbourne in round one – when it defeated Gold Coast at the MCG by 26 points – wasn’t whittled away after the dramatic loss to Greater Western Sydney in Canberra on Saturday.  

Speaking at AAMI Park on Monday, Roos said Melbourne’s dismal second half – when GWS booted 13 goals to one and ultimately recorded a 45-point win – wouldn’t affect the encouraging work achieved against the Suns.  

“No, not at all,” he said.

“It looks like it’s going to be a more even competition [this year]. But the top teams look like they’re going to be the same top teams again.

“It (the season) is a marathon … part of coaching is not having knee-jerk reactions to a half or a quarter. Working out what the main things are that we’ve got to do better – I think we’re pretty clear on that.”

Roos said it was important his side got back to basics this round against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, following Melbourne’s woeful second half against Greater Western Sydney. Still, Roos said Melbourne’s best was still better than it was last year.

“It’s only a small sample, but we’ve had six really good quarters [this year]. It’s just [that there is a gap between our best and] worst footy,” he said.

“We’ve got to be really focusing on and making sure they just come down to those really simple things that Freo do exceptionally well … and Sydney at their best.

“They’re arguably the best two-way running team in the competition.”

Roos said he didn’t think Melbourne went in to the GWS clash with one runner too few, after big man Chris Dawes came in the side for small forward Jay Kennedy-Harris. Bernie Vince also came in Jimmy Toumpas.

“I must admit I didn’t think that going in and I hadn’t thought that since,” he said.